Another Heads to Prison for Operation “Tres Equis”

LAREDO, Texas – A 34-year-old Laredoan is now the 23^rd defendant to be headed to federal prison following his conviction of money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

A federal jury convicted Daniel Laurel June 15, 2018, for having successfully laundered drug proceeds for the Romero Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) by operating a funnel account and recruiting other Laredoans to do the same. 

Late Friday, May 17, 2019, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered him to prison for 151 months for money laundering conspiracy and money laundering concealment. As part of his sentence, Laurel also received a $285,500 money judgment or forfeiture of funds involved in his money laundering

The DTO used Laurel’s bank account and those of his recruits to funnel drug proceeds from various geographic locations, such as  Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York and Georgia for immediate withdrawal in Laredo. Once the proceeds were withdrawn, they were provided to other Laredo co-conspirators and often taken into Mexico to leaders of the organization.  convictions. 

Laurel is one of several persons identified through a long term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Tres Equis. These co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl through the use the U.S. Postal Service or other means such as Federal Express. They also used various U.S. bank accounts to transfer drug proceeds from distribution hub cities to cities along the Mexican border, including Laredo, and to places outside the United States, including Mexico and Ecuador.

The 22 others sentenced include Antonio Romero Jr., 32, of Orlando, Florida, who occupied a leadership position in the DTO and received a 292-month sentence. The other prison sentences ranges from 12-210 months based on their roles in the organization. Two others received probation. As part of their respective sentences, most people received a hefty money judgment or forfeiture of funds involved or traceable to drug trafficking which ranged from $1000 to $1.08 million. Additionally, non-U.S. citizen defendants are expected to face deportation proceedings and possible cancellation or denial of any previously granted visa or legal residency status.   

The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS – Criminal Investigation conducted the OCDETF investigation. Also providing assistance was the U.S. Marshals Service, Laredo Police Department, sheriff’s offices in Webb and Zapata Counties, Webb County District Attorney’s Office, Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Graciela R. Lindberg prosecuted the case.