According to a spokesman of the Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday, over $200,000 proceeds of drug money laundered by fast-food restaurants with falsified invoices in Wyoming and Colorado have been forfeited by defendants and judge has ordered that the details of the criminal case are kept a secret. Jose Aguilar-Martinez a full supplier in Colorado has been accused of being the masterpiece of the scheme. However, special agents in Wyoming were not able to tell how much of the money belonged to Martinez, noting that it is their next target. In March, $90,000 of the seized money could not be traced but was later realized that $13,000 of it was associated with accounts owned by Martinez. In April last year, news has it that Martinez was alleged of running a business that launders drug money through 24-hour restaurants in Wyoming and Colorado and the law enforcement agency has revealed that he has links with the Mexican drug cartel.
Investigations showed that Martinez, owner of El Potosino, would give drug money to restaurants, who would then deposit it into restaurant bank accounts to avoid suspicion. Martinez would then, in turn, issue fake invoices for ingredients and suppliers to the restaurants who then pay him for the ‘service’. Some restaurants were identified but many of them denied the allegations and demanded that their money is returned. However, in April, a judge denied the request to dismiss the case but ordered to have it on hold while the criminal investigation continues.
