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Counterfeit Goods Trafficker Faces Justice
A brazen attempt at hiding illicit gains has backfired for a 23-year-old woman from Albert City, Iowa. Yesenia Ledesma-Ledezma, 23, pleaded guilty to money laundering in federal court in Sioux City on August 9, 2021.
Ledesma-Ledezma was convicted of money laundering and agreed to forfeit property she acquired with proceeds from her illegal business. The investigation revealed that the defendant engaged in money laundering by purchasing a home for approximately $65,000 with proceeds derived from her extensive business operations which involved smuggling counterfeit goods into the United States and trafficking those counterfeit goods.
The counterfeit goods known to law enforcement had an approximate domestic value of over $370,000, and the defendant took in a profit of at least $65,000 from her counterfeit trafficking and smuggling activities. This staggering amount of illicit earnings is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of organized crime on our communities.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The defendant remains free on bond pending sentencing, which will be set after a presentence report is prepared.
Ledesma-Ledezma faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. This serves as a stark reminder that those who engage in organized crime will be held accountable for their actions.
The case file number is 21-4063, and court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA for the latest updates on this case and other high-profile crimes in the region.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: White Collar Crime|Organized Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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