Marco A. Gonzalez, Money Laundering, California 2021

San Diego, California – In a shocking turn of events, Marco A. Gonzalez, owner of MRK Casa de Cambio, has pleaded guilty to violating laws and regulations designed to prevent money laundering by customers of his currency exchange business.

According to court documents, Gonzalez admitted to intentionally failing to adhere to anti-money laundering laws and regulations imposed on currency exchange businesses like MRK Casa de Cambio. As a result, the business engaged in cash transactions without applying adequate scrutiny to the source, purpose, ownership, or destination of the funds.

The investigation, led by Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (‘HSI’), uncovered millions of dollars in transactions at MRK Casa de Cambio from approximately 2015 to 2020. Gonzalez’s plea agreement includes failing to disclose MRK Casa de Cambio’s Mexico-based offices and branches with the Secretary of the Treasury, reporting false and materially incomplete information, and filing false or materially misleading reports of currency transactions exceeding $10,000 and reports of suspicious activity.

‘The gatekeepers of the United States financial system must be steadfast in the fight against international money laundering,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. ‘The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to demand the highest standards of anti-money laundering compliance by all financial institutions.’

Gonzalez faces sentencing on August 2, 2021 before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo.

As a result of Gonzalez’s actions, MRK Casa de Cambio engaged in cash transactions without applying adequate scrutiny to the source, purpose, ownership, or destination of the funds, or otherwise whether they were relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation.

This guilty plea sends a strong signal to financial institutions and money service businesses to remain vigilant in their anti-money laundering duties.

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