Five-Year Sentence Concludes Cross-Border Money Laundering Investigation Involving $1.2 Million

A five-year prison sentence linked to a scheme that laundered 1.2 million dollars has concluded a complex cross-border investigation that involved extradition and a guilty plea. The case centered on a laundering network that funneled drug-derived proceeds through bulk cash pickups across multiple U.S. cities before channeling the funds through accounts registered under unrelated names. Prosecutors detailed how the operation moved money rapidly between the United States and Colombia, creating the appearance of legitimate transfers while concealing the origin of the assets. The scale and structure of these transactions formed the basis of the money laundering conspiracy charge that ultimately led to the conviction.

The investigation revealed how the network generated liquidity for drug traffickers while circumventing regulated financial channels. Authorities found that the network coordinated cash pickups from various locations in the United States after proceeds had entered from Mexico. Couriers collected large amounts of currency derived from drug trafficking transactions and delivered it to locations where it was deposited into U.S. accounts that did not belong to the true owners of the funds. These accounts were held under the names of unrelated individuals or companies, obstructing the tracing of transactions.

Once the cash entered the banking system, the funds were moved rapidly through layered transactions to create the appearance of legitimacy. Transfers to Colombia followed soon after deposits in the United States, simulating unrelated commercial activity. The structure relied on velocity, limiting the time financial institutions had to detect anomalies. Corresponding deliveries in Colombian pesos were made within days to Nunez Daza and his couriers, demonstrating a parallel exchange system operating outside formal channels. Authorities emphasized that the arrangement represented a continuous loop in which U.S. currency flowed south while peso settlements were completed in Colombia. Court records indicate that the network laundered at least $1.2 million over eight months, a figure consistent with repeated cycles of bulk cash movement and structured banking activity. The FBI noted that the coordinated nature of the operation reflected a sophisticated approach to concealment rather than sporadic individual actions.

Evidence presented in court showed that Nunez Daza orchestrated a structured method for moving deposits through accounts designed to obscure ownership. These accounts enabled the organization to introduce bulk cash into the banking sector without linking it to those who controlled the funds. The method relied on intermediaries providing access to their accounts or incorporating entities that served as nominal holders. Following placement into the U.S. financial system, the funds were subjected to rapid transfers that created layers masking the source. Transfer chains across different jurisdictions maintained the appearance of business-related activity, even though the money originated from drug proceeds. Court filings stated that moving the funds back to Colombia completed the cycle, providing traffickers with local currency payouts.

Nunez Daza was positioned at the center of the network’s hierarchy, arranging pickups, supervising couriers, and directing the timing of transfers. The quick turnaround between cash deliveries and peso settlements demonstrated that the network had access to liquidity channels operating outside regulated exchange mechanisms. The structure allowed Mexico-based partners to recycle U.S. currency while receiving Colombian pesos within short periods. The fact pattern underscores how bulk cash continues to facilitate cross-border laundering when traffickers seek alternatives to digital transfers alone. The reliance on physical cash, combined with rapid deposits and seemingly unrelated bank accounts, posed significant detection challenges.

The case proceeded through indictment, extradition, and sentencing over several years. Court records show that Nunez Daza had previously been convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and deported from the United States in 2004. He later became the target of an investigation tracing funds transported from Mexico into U.S. cities, culminating in a federal indictment in January 2023. Authorities in Colombia arrested him following a U.S. request, and his extradition to the United States occurred in April 2025. The Justice Department cited coordinated efforts among U.S. investigators, Colombian law enforcement, and the Office of International Affairs as critical to bringing Nunez Daza under U.S. jurisdiction to face the charges.

Nunez Daza pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of money laundering conspiracy, reflecting his role in directing an organization that moved drug proceeds through U.S. accounts. His sentence of 60 months, paired with a forfeiture order of $1.2 million, marks the conclusion of a case illustrating how transnational laundering networks operate alongside evolving compliance expectations. The Justice Department framed the case as part of a nationwide initiative targeting cross-border criminal financing supporting drug trafficking organizations. The FBI emphasized that laundering networks rely on deceptive layers to obscure transactions, and dismantling this network removed a significant channel for drug-derived proceeds.

The case also highlights broader lessons for financial crime controls. It demonstrates how bulk cash combined with structured account activity can penetrate legitimate institutions when oversight gaps exist. Detection depends on recognizing the use of unrelated accounts and rapid fund transfers lacking legitimate economic purpose. The repeated corresponding deliveries in Colombia within days illustrate how parallel market systems can operate at high speed to obscure asset origins. Financial institutions face heightened expectations to detect patterns associated with bulk cash introductions, especially when coupled with transfers to high-risk jurisdictions. The operation under Nunez Daza’s direction underscores the importance of monitoring accounts used by individuals or entities without clear business rationale and reinforces the need for cross-jurisdictional coordination when transactions involve rapid international settlement.

The sentencing exemplifies how structured networks can move substantial sums through legitimate financial institutions while distancing traffickers from the proceeds. The legal outcome offers a reference for policymakers and compliance professionals examining cash-based laundering typologies, and the evidence demonstrates that enforcement authorities continue to prioritize investigations targeting individuals who orchestrate complex laundering systems, rather than focusing solely on couriers or intermediaries.

By fLEXI tEAM