A Mexican kingpin who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges has been sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison. Aaron Quintero-Soto, 41, formerly of Sinaloa, Mexico, was also ordered to forfeit nearly $200,000 and a Dodge Caravan seized during the federal investigation. Quintero-Soto was the leader of a five-person drug trafficking ring that smuggled "significant amounts" of methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack from Mexico into the United States. Specifically, they smuggled the drugs to Phoenix, and from there distributed them throughout the country.
The organization also "engaged in money laundering and bulk cash smuggling by transporting drug proceeds in US currency back to Mexico utilizing secret compartments in vehicles to hide the money", according to prosecutors. As Complinet readers know, such drug proceeds are often deposited into Mexican banks and casas de cambio for eventual return to the US financial system.
During the investigation, federal agents
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