Former Fugitive Mauricio Sanchez-Garza Sentenced to Federal Prison for Money Laundering

In San Antonio this afternoon, United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced 46-year-old Mexican National Mauricio Sanchez-Garza to 63 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for laundering millions of dollars in Sinaloa Cartel drug proceeds United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr.; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge William Cotter; and, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

On October 20, 2016, Sanchez-Garza pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court records (SA11CR616), from 2005 until July 2011, Mauricio Sanchez-Garza, Jorge Sanchez and Mauricio’s brother, 47-year-old Mexican National Alejandro Sanchez-Garza, conspired to transport into the United States and conduct financial transactions with proceeds derived from illegal drug trafficking in order to conceal the nature of the funds. Specifically, the defendants entered into joint ventures with drug traffickers by funneling proceeds generated from drug trafficking through their businesses and corporate entities to make the proceeds appear to be legitimate and lawful; insulate the drug traffickers from evidence of criminal involvement in the proceeds; and, to attempt to make a profit for both the defendants and the drug traffickers.

Mauricio Sanchez-Garza had remained a fugitive since fleeing the United States to avoid prosecution in 2010. He was extradited to the United States from Mexico in July 2016 and has remained in federal custody since.

On August 19, 2014, Alejandro Sanchez-Garza was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

On June 12, 2013, Jorge Sanchez was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of extortion.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office investigated this case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided assistance with the extradition.