Nicaraguan Sentenced for 18-year-old RICO Indictment

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ERWIN J. MIERISCH, JR., age 49, of Nicaragua, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Indictment charging him with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced MIERISCH to 4 years imprisonment to be followed by 3 years supervised release.

According to court documents, MIERISCH, along with co-defendants ROBERTO GAMBINI and JOSE ESTEBAN MCEWAN, conspired to launder drug proceeds and to assault the plaintiff in a Texas civil case to prevent her from testifying.  The Indictment was handed down on July 9, 1999.  GAMBINI pleaded guilty in 2000 and was eventually deported to his native Italy.  The third defendant, MCEWAN, died in Nicaragua several years ago. 

MIERISCH was a fugitive since the Indictment was returned.  He was detained in Mexico City in December of 2016, and brought to this country to face the charge.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. McMahon is in charge of the prosecution.