A Houston man has been charged with a serious crime that shook the community. Alejandro Morales-Flores, 60, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Houston, has entered a plea of guilty in McAllen federal court to conspiring to commit money laundering.
On October 24, 2014, Morales-Flores was driving a tractor-trailer from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley. A trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) stopped him near San Manuel for a traffic violation as he was heading to the Valley. His trailer was found to be empty, but a search resulted in the discovery of several bags containing a total of $1,413,255 in U.S. currency hidden in the sleeper compartment.
Morales-Flores admitted he knew the money was drug trafficking proceeds and that he was being paid to deliver it to unknown individuals in the Rio Grande Valley area.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from DPS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Leonard is prosecuting the case.
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea today and set sentencing for June 29, 2015, at which time Morales-Flores faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible fine of more than $2.8 million. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The case highlights the ongoing struggle against money laundering in Texas and the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to combat this serious crime.
Alejandro Morales-Flores’s guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement agencies and serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in money laundering and other financial crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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