On Thursday, Maverick County Commissioner Rodolfo Heredia, 54, was arrested by FBI agents "in connection with a money laundering and bulk cash smuggling scheme," according to a Department of Justice press release.
The money laundering allegedly went on between 2009 and 2011 on behalf of the ultra-violent Los Zetas Cartel.
The indictment reads:
"On January 4, 2011, Heredia had Aguilar travel to a ranch in Mexico owned by a known associate of the Los Zetas Drug Trafficking Organization for the purpose of selling Heredia’s Ford F-250 King Ranch truck for $13,000. Following the sale, at Heredia’s bidding, Aguilar and Gelacio, carrying $7,000 cash and $6,000 cash, respectively, crossed the money from Mexico into the United States via the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. They are alleged to have divided and concealed the money in order to avoid a reporting requirement at the Port of Entry."
Read the full indictment...
Heredia is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico and apparently makes frequent trips between the two countries.
Heredia is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering; aiding and abetting money laundering; conspiracy to commit bulk cash smuggling; and, aiding and abetting bulk cash smuggling. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Heredia is currently being held without bond and is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Collis White on Tuesday.
Read more about the spread of Los Zetas in the U.S.:
Los Zetas cell taken down in Chicago
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