Beyond The Horizon
China Syndrome: The Indictment Of The Sinaloa Cartel And Their Chinese Money Bundlers (Part 3) (6/22/24)
A recent federal indictment unsealed in June 2024 details a sophisticated scheme involving the Sinaloa Cartel and Chinese money launderers in Los Angeles. The indictment charges 24 individuals, including key figures such as Edgar Joel Martinez-Reyes, with conspiracy to distribute drugs, launder money, and operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
This investigation, dubbed "Operation Fortune Runner," revealed that over $50 million in drug proceeds were laundered through an underground banking system linked to Chinese nationals. The money laundering network, based in the San Gabriel Valley of California, processed and concealed large amounts of drug trafficking proceeds, making them accessible to cartel members in Mexico and elsewhere. Methods used included trade-based money laundering, asset structuring, and the purchase of cryptocurrency.
The collaboration between U.S., Chinese, and Mexican law enforcement led to the arrest of several fugitives involved in this scheme. This case underscores the growing partnership between Mexican drug cartels and Chinese organized crime groups to launder drug money, which funds the production and distribution of dangerous drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine in the United States.
In this episode we take a look at that indictment.
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- Duration:
- 14m
- Broadcast on:
- 22 Jun 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
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EGW Group, forward where prohibited by law, 18-plus Terms and Conditions apply. What's up, everyone, and welcome back to the program. In this episode, we're diving right back in to the indictment of the members of the Cinelloa cartel and their Chinese money bundlers. See, overt acts. Honor about the following dates and furtherance of the conspiracy and to accomplish its objectives, the defendants and co-conspirators, committed the following overt acts, among others, within the central district of California and elsewhere, including but not limited to the following. One, on January 16, 2020, in Bell Gardens, California, defendant Cheng Wu-hee delivered an unknown sum of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to an unknown male who was a money exchange customer at the Bicycle Casino. Two, on January 16, 2020, in Monterey Park, California, defendant Cheng Wu-hee possessed approximately $55,286 of drug trafficking proceeds in United States currency. Three, on September 4, 2020, in Arcadia, California, defendants Mu and Su at the direction of defendant Sizong, accepted delivery of $34,000 of drug trafficking proceeds, wrapped in aluminum foil inside an orange bag from a female drug proceeds courier known to the grand jury. Four, on January 26, 2021, at a parking lot of an office complex located at 8060 Florence Avenue in Downey, California, the office complex, defendant Zambrano, changed the front and back license plates on his black 2014 Mercedes Benz to license plates that were not assigned to that car. Number five, on January 26, 2021, in Downey, California, after meeting with defendants, Martinez Reyes and Bellandria Contreras, defendant Zambrano got into a 2010 silver infinity registered to defendant Martinez Reyes, the silver infinity, and drove to 7914 Florence Avenue, Downey, California, where defendant Zambrano picked up a weighted white bag containing an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency from a co-conspirator and then drove back to the office complex where he delivered the white bag to defendant Martinez Reyes. Six, on January 26, 2021, in Downey, California, defendant Bellandria Contreras delivered a large leather backpack containing an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to defendant Martinez Reyes at the office complex. Seven, on January 26, 2021, at 7920 Florence Avenue, Downey, California, defendant Zambrano again driving the silver infinity picked up a second white bag containing an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency from a co-conspirator and delivered the white bag to defendant Martinez Reyes at the office complex. Eight, on January 26, 2021, in Downey, California, in an electronic communication using coded language, defendant Tongue, instructed defendant, he to pick up approximately $226,000 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency at the office complex. Nine, on January 26, 2021, at the office complex, defendant Martinez Reyes gave a large white bag with the words happy birthday on the side containing $226,000 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to defendant he. Ten, on January 26, 2021, in Downey, California, defendant he possessed approximately $226,000 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency concealed inside a white paper bag pictured below. 11, on January 27, 2021, at Citibank ATMs in Downey in Long Beach, California, defendant Belangeria Contreras structured cast deposits into his bank accounts to avoid reporting requirements by conducting 24 separate transactions to a deposit total of $15,960 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency. 12, on January 29, 2021, at a Citibank ATM in Long Beach, California, defendant Zombrano structured cash deposits into his bank account to avoid a reporting requirement by conducting 15 separate transactions to deposit a total of $19,900 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency. 13, on March 23, 2021, in Fontana, California, defendant Contreras picked up a yellow plastic bag containing an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in the US currency from defendant Bernal. 14, on April 12, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, defendant Ovali delivered an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to defendant Contreras. 15, on April 21, 2021, defendant Martinez Reyes and Contreras delivered a fruity pebble cereal box containing an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds that later proved to be approximately $59,980 in US currency to a residence used as a collection point and count house to further drug money laundering activity located at 11108 Freer Street Temple City, California, 16. On May 19, 2021, in Southgate, California, defendant Ovali picked up approximately $183,030 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency from an unidentified co-conspirator, 17. On May 27, 2021, in Pasadena, California, defendant Gonzalez intentionally smashed his car into the official government vehicle driven by United States Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer as G, who was then trying to detain defendant Gonzalez as part of a drug trafficking investigation in an attempt to obstruct the investigation and injure that task force officer, 18. On May 27, 2021, in Pasadena, California, defendant Gonzalez possessed 46 in the visually rad packages of drug trafficking proceeds totaling approximately 598,110 dollars in US currency pictured below, 19. On July 12, 2021, in Anaheim, California, defendant Contreras picked up an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency in a large black duffel bag from a co-conspirator, 20. On July 12, 2021, in Temple City, California, defendant Contreras delivered an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to a money stash house operated by an unlicensed money exchange business located at 1108 Freer Street, 21. On July 21, 2021, in El Monte, California, defendant May Orga delivered an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to defendant Contreras, 22. On July 29, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, defendant LaSone Robles delivered an unknown amount of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to defendant Contreras, 23. On August 5, 2021, in Temple City, California, defendant Contreras delivered an unknown amount of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to 1118 Freer Street, 24. On August 18, 2021, in Temple City, California, defendant Contreras delivered an unknown amount of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to Freer Street, 25. On August 24, 2021, in Baldwin Park, California, defendant May Orga delivered approximately $249,500 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to defendant Mobris. - Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest, life comes at you fast, which is why it's important to find some time to relax a little you time. Enter Chumba Casino with no download required. You can jump on anytime, anywhere for the chance to redeem some serious prizes. So treat yourself with Chumba Casino and play over 100 online casino style games all for free. Go to Chumba Casino.com to collect your free welcome bonus. Sponsored by Chumba Casino, no purchase necessary. VGW Group, void where prohibited by law, 18 plus terms and conditions apply. - 26. On September 14, 2021, in Colton, California, defendant May Orga delivered approximately $99,350 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to a co-conspirator who has to deliver the funds to Mexico, 27. On December 3, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, defendant Rodriguez Trujillo picked up an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency from a co-conspirator, 28. On December 16, 2021, in Linwood, California, defendant Rodriguez Trujillo, possessed approximately $379,660 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency, pictured below 29. On January 25, 2022, in Pomona, California, defendant May Orga, possessed approximately $205,330 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency. 30. On February 17, 2022, in Commerce, California, defendant Martinez Reyes delivered approximately $124,800 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to a co-conspirator known to the grand jury for the purpose of purchasing cryptocurrency on behalf of the drug trafficking organization that owned the proceeds, 31. On May 11, 2022, in Arcadia, California, defendant Martinez Reyes delivered an unknown amount of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to a co-conspirator known to the grand jury for the purpose of purchasing cryptocurrency on behalf of the drug trafficking organization that owned the proceeds, 32. On October 18, 2022, and San Gabriel, California, defendant Cabrera delivered an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency to a co-conspirator, 33. On March 23, 2023, in San Gabriel, California, defendant Zal possessed approximately $111,430 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency concealed inside of a white plastic bag. 34, on April 10, 2023, in Arcadia, California, defendant Yee picked up an unknown quantity of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency concealed inside a yellow plastic bag, 36. On April 10, 2023, in North Hills, California, defendant Yee delivered approximately $60,000 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency contained in white and yellow plastic bags to a US currency customer. 37, on April 27, 2023, in Arcadia, California, defendant Yee, deposited a cashier's check representing an unknown amount of United States currency at a Chase Bank ATM. 38, on April 27, 2023, in Arcadia, California, defendant Yee, deposited approximately $100,000 of United States currency at a Chase Bank teller window, 39. On May 4, 2023, in Laverne, California, defendant Yee, possessed approximately $100,000 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency concealed inside of a gray backpack, 40. On May 4, 2023, in Laverne, California, defendant Yang possessed approximately $100,000 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency concealed inside of a black plastic bag, 41. On May 11, 2023, in Arcadia, California, defendant Sue and Yee, possessed approximately $50,000 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency concealed inside of a brown satchel, 42. On May 12, 2023, in San Gabriel, California, defendant Yang possessed approximately $150,000 of drug trafficking proceeds in US currency, concealed inside of a white paper bag. All right, we're gonna wrap up this episode here and in the next episode, we're gonna pick up with count two. All of the information that goes with this episode can be found in the description box. - I'm Victoria Cash and I wanna invite you to a place called Lucky Land. Where you can play over 100 social casino style games for free for your chance to redeem some serious prizes. So what are you waiting for? The best way to discover your luck is to spin. So go to luckylandslots.com. That's luckylandslots.com and get lucky today. At Lucky Land. - No purchase necessary. VGW Group, boy prohibited by law. 18 plus terms and conditions apply.