Brother-in-Law To Former Tamaulipas Governor Indicted In Money Laundering Scheme
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Oscar Gomez Guerra, 43, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Corpus Christi on charges of conspiring to launder monetary instruments and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Guerra is married to the sister of former Tamaulipas, Mexico, Governor Eugenio Hernandez Flores. The charges against Guerra allege that he laundered monetary instruments on behalf of Hernandez.
The indictment previously under seal, was unsealed by order of the court following a motion filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office today. Guerra is currently a fugitive. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Drug Enforcement (DEA) at 713-693-3000.
The indictment alleges that beginning in approximately January 2008, Guerra conspired to commit international money laundering and aided and abetted the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business.
The indictment includes a notice of criminal forfeiture for a residential property in Austin located at 2001 Cueva de Oro in The Preserve at Lost Cave and the property at 4416 South H Street in McAllen. The Austin and McAllen properties have respective values of $2.7 million and $500,000. The United States also intends to seek a personal money judgment from Guerra in the amount of $10 million.
If convicted of the money laundering conspiracy, Guerra faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transactions or both. Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business carries a maximum five years in prison, upon conviction.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted through Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in Houston, San Antonio, Brownsville, Laredo, McAllen and Corpus Christi by DEA, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie K. Hampton is prosecuting.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
