Mexican Man Linked To Money Laundering Sentenced To Texas Prison

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A Mexican man linked to laundering drug profits has been sentenced to more than two years in a U.S. prison and must forfeit $5.5 million in cash and property.

A federal judge in San Antonio on Monday afternoon sentenced 58-year-old Antonio Pena-Arguelles. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

A South Texas grand jury in 2012 indicted Pena-Arguelles on charges alleging that since 2000 he invested drug profits in the U.S. for the Gulf cartel and Zetas. Prosecution documents also named him as a conduit between the cartels and payments to Mexican politicians for influence and protection.

Pena-Arguelles, who was sentenced to 30 months in prison, remains in federal custody.

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