Individual Arrested For Bulk Cash Smuggling

San Juan, Puerto Rico– Máximo Paredes-Suárez was indicted for bulk cash smuggling and providing false statements to federal officials, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) are in charge of the investigation.

On or about November 12, 2016, Máximo Paredes-Suárez, did knowingly conceal more than $10,000 in currency and other monetary instruments, to wit: sixty-two thousand three hundred eighty-six dollars ($62,386.00) in United States currency, in his luggage, and attempted to transport and transfer said U.S. currency and monetary instruments from the San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, in the District of Puerto Rico, to the Dominican Republic.

According to the indictment, the defendant willfully and knowingly made materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements by stating to CBP and ICE-HSI AirTAT agents that he was not transporting any currency, at the San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The statement and representation was false because, as Paredes-Suárez then and there knew, he had $62,386.00 in United States currency concealed in his luggage at the San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Zander. The case was investigated by Customs and Border Protection officers and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Airport Investigations and Tactical Team (AirTAT).

The maximum penalties for these offenses are 10 years of imprisonment. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.