In a brazen money laundering scheme, Omar Aliperti De Mello Correa, a 34-year-old U.S. citizen from Orlando, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder tens of millions of dollars in illicit cash proceeds. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida accepted Correa’s guilty plea on June 24, 2026.
According to court documents, Correa was part of a sophisticated money laundering organization that operated across the United States and spanned several countries. The conspiracy involved arranging for bulk cash proceeds from the sale of controlled substances to be received by U.S.-based couriers and deposited at banks across the country.
Correa’s co-defendants, all Brazilian nationals and illegal aliens residing in Orlando, also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. They include Ygor Fokin Saviolli, 35; Gabriel Cezar Menezes, 29; Joao Andrade De Mello, 29; Tadeu Sebastiane Rabelo Alves Barbosa, 30; and Leandro De Avila Goncalves, 42.
The money laundering organization, which operated across the United States, used a complex network of couriers and bank accounts to conceal and return profits to the sources of drug supply operating outside the United States. Dozens of people were involved in the conspiracy, which netted tens of millions of dollars in illicit cash proceeds.
Correa faces a significant sentence for his role in the conspiracy. While the exact prison time has not been determined, the charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. The guilty plea is a major blow to the money laundering organization, which has been dismantled as a result of the investigation.
The case is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by international money laundering organizations and the importance of law enforcement efforts to disrupt and dismantle these networks.
Source: Department of Justice
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