In a shocking case of international financial deceit, 60-year-old Uruguayan national Irazmar Carbajal De Jesus has pleaded guilty to conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The scheme, which aimed to circumvent US sanctions related to Venezuela, involved transferring nearly $100,000 from the Dominican Republic into a US bank account in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
According to court documents, Carbajal agreed to transfer the cash, which was delivered in the Dominican Republic, to a specified bank account in Florida. The funds were allegedly from a sanctioned Venezuelan government official who needed help moving them to the United States. Carbajal and his partner planned to charge a 20% fee for this service, which included creating fake invoices to justify the transactions to the banks and using multiple accounts to transmit the funds.
In a clever attempt to disguise the true nature of the transaction, Carbajal referred to the funds as a “boy who needs to be taken to school.” However, authorities were not fooled, and Carbajal’s scheme was eventually uncovered. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2026.
Carbajal faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for his crimes. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat international money laundering and sanctions evasion. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the need for robust financial regulations and enforcement becomes more pressing.
The guilty plea is a significant blow to Carbajal’s plans to launder money and evade US sanctions. It also serves as a warning to others who would seek to engage in similar activities. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether Carbajal’s partner and other individuals involved in the scheme will face similar charges.
Source: Department of Justice
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