Huerta-Cornejo Guilty

A Merced County man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle bulk cash from marijuana proceeds into Mexico. Arnulfo Huerta-Cornejo, 32, of Delhi, admitted to his role in the smuggling operation, which involved hiding approximately $16,000 in cash in a vehicle and arranging to have it smuggled into Mexico.

According to court documents, Huerta-Cornejo was involved in the cultivation of marijuana on federal lands between March 2014 and August 2015. During that time, he accumulated the cash from the sale of marijuana and failed to report it, as required by federal regulations. The regulations require reporting when $10,000 or more cash is taken out of the United States.

Huerta-Cornejo’s guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert on Friday, February 17, 2017. The case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Madera County Sheriff’s Department, and the Merced County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rooney is prosecuting the case.

The investigation revealed that Huerta-Cornejo hid the cash in a vehicle and arranged to have it smuggled into Mexico. The smuggling operation was a violation of federal law, and Huerta-Cornejo faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Huerta-Cornejo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill on May 22, 2017. The sentencing hearing will determine the final outcome of the case and the punishment that Huerta-Cornejo will receive. The case serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in illegal activities, such as marijuana smuggling and bulk cash smuggling.

The guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it highlights the importance of reporting cash transactions of $10,000 or more. The failure to report such transactions can result in serious consequences, including fines and imprisonment. The case also underscores the need for cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat illegal activities and bring perpetrators to justice.