February 13, 2009
MEXICAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR MONEY LAUNDERING DRUG PROCEEDS
DENVER – Saul Saucedo, age 48, citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to serve 180 months (15 years) in federal prison for money laundering related to a drug trafficking organization, David M. Gaouette, Acting U.S. Attorney; Jeffrey D. Sweetin, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Rocky Mountain Division; and Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Christopher M. Sigerson announced. In addition to the prison term, Judge Blackburn ordered Saucedo to pay a fine of $300,000, as well as a $100 special assessment to a victims of crime fund. Once released from prison, Saucedo was ordered to spend 3 years on supervised release. Judge Blackburn ordered Saucedo to be remanded into custody.
Saul Saucedo was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver in 2003 for his involvement in a very large scale drug trafficking organization, located in Peyton, Colorado. He was extradited by Mexican authorities to the United States in January of 2007, and pled guilty to conspiracy to launder money charges on October 17, 2008.
According to information contained in his plea agreement, as well as the indictment, in March 2002, the DEA's Colorado Springs office initiated an investigation into a group utilizing a 500 acre rural ranch property in Peyton, Colorado, as a base of operations to transport large shipments of cocaine and drug proceeds. The investigation was coordinated nationally by the DEA and identified as a far reaching and sophisticated organization. Saucedo was responsible for the movement of money, as well as running certain cells within several U.S. cities.
Approximately 2,300 kilograms (approximately 5,000 pounds) of cocaine and $11 million in drug proceeds have been seized to date in this investigation. The investigation also revealed that one courier alone transported over $43 million to Mexico during a twelve (12) month time period.
One of the cells of this organization utilized a 500 acre rural ranch located in Peyton, Colorado to offload and store multi-hundred kilogram quantities of cocaine smuggled in with tractor trailers from Mexico into Colorado. The cocaine was then transferred to other drivers who would then transport the cocaine to Chicago, New York City and other U.S. cities.
Once the cocaine was sold, the drug proceeds were collected and often transported back to the same ranch location in Peyton, Colorado. The investigation revealed that up to $2.5 million in cash at a time would be collected and transported by the organization’s couriers. From the ranch, the money would be delivered to the kingpins in Mexico. The organization also controlled a residence in El Paso, Texas where the drug proceeds were frequently delivered. Once the drug proceeds reached the El Paso residence, the proceeds would be loaded into vehicles with hidden compartments and then driven from the United States to Mexico.
The investigation also revealed that Saucedo directed the cocaine distribution and money collection activities of subordinates in several U.S. cities. DEA agents in Chicago, New York, El Paso and Mexico coordinated their efforts with the investigative action being taken at the Peyton Ranch. As a result, key organization members were arrested throughout the United States and seizures of cocaine and drug proceeds were made in several cities.
While the ranch in Peyton, Colorado was a major trans-shipment point for the organization and much of the organization’s cocaine was shipped to locations east of Colorado, distributors also operated along the Front Range of Colorado. Cocaine distribution cells were identified in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver and Greeley, leading to drug seizures and arrests of organization members in those cities.
“As a result of the tremendous help of the Mexican government, this defendant will finally be punished for the crimes he committed,” said Acting US Attorney David Gaouette.
“When IRS Criminal Investigation gets involved the drug dealer’s profits are seized, forfeited and used to bring down other drug dealers,” said Christopher M. Sigerson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigations, Denver Field Office.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the IRS Criminal Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Allen and Chief of the Drug Task Force section Stephanie Podolak.
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