Fugitive From Justice For 16 Years Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison For Laundering Illegal Drug Proceeds

NEWARK, N.J. – After spending 16 years as a fugitive from justice, a man was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to launder almost $700,000 in illegal drug proceeds, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Reinaldo Jimenez, 49, most recently of Madrid, Spain, was previously convicted at trial by a federal jury in 1998 of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Jimenez fled the country before his sentencing and lived abroad as a fugitive for 16 years. He was captured in California in 2014. U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

From October 1996 through March 14, 1997, Jimenez knowingly laundered nearly $700,000 in drug proceeds collected by co-defendants in New Jersey and elsewhere. Jimenez took possession of the cash in $15,000 bundles wrapped in newspaper and scotch tape and then made numerous small deposits into personal, family and business accounts to avoid triggering mandatory reporting requirements. Jimenez then wired the laundered funds to cartel contacts in Columbia and Venezuela.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Linares sentenced Jimenez to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Feder of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, General Crimes Unit, in Newark.

Defense counsel: Assistant Public Defender K. Anthony Thomas Esq., Newark