Seventh Member Of Ohio Oxycodone Money Laundering Conspiracy Pleads
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Tiauna Castro, 27, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to participating in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds from the illegal sale of dangerous painkillers, including oxycodone, in central Ohio.
Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Detroit Division, Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue (IRS) Criminal Investigation, Christopher White, Assistant Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection (USPIS) and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the plea, that was entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
According to court documents, Castro deposited the proceeds from the illegal sale of oxycodone to a bank account in Columbus, Ohio, that was held in the name of a front business. The account was actually controlled by someone Castro knew was illegally trafficking pills from Las Vegas to Columbus.
Castro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and agreed to forfeit $150,975.00 in currency.
Others convicted in the conspiracy include two people from Las Vegas, Danny R. Williams, 30, who was sentenced on July 28th, 2016, to 7 ½ years in federal prison, and Sukita M. Williams, 44, who is awaiting sentencing. Three people from Columbus have pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing, Rashod D. Todd, 29, Joquline D. Harris, 29, and Alfred David James Sr., 36. A fourth co-conspirator, Dontonyo Courtney, 22, pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the DEA, IRS, USPIS and Ohio Bureau of Criminal (BCI), as well as Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Hunter, Deputy Criminal Chief of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, who is representing the United States in this case.
