Former Tamaulipas Governor Indicted In Money Laundering Scheme With Brother-in-Law
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - An indictment has been officially unsealed charging Eugenio Hernandez Flores, the former governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico, with 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, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Hernandez Flores, 57, was indicted along with Oscar Gomez Guerra, 43, on May 27, 2015. Following a motion filed by the United States, the court officially unsealed that indictment late yesterday.
Hernandez Flores was the governor of the Mexican State of Tamaulipas from 2005 to 2010. Gomez Guerra is married to his sister.
The U.S. government intends to seek a personal money judgment from both men in the amount of $30 million. Also included in the indictment is a notice of criminal forfeiture regarding four real properties, three of which are located in McAllen and are valued at more than $2 million. The other property is located in Austin.
If convicted of the money laundering conspiracy, the two face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $500,(or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transactions or both). They will also face up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum fine if convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Both men are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the Drug Enforcement (DEA) at 713-693-3000.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted through OCDETF in Houston, San Antonio, Brownsville, Laredo, McAllen and Corpus Christi. The DEA, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse Salazar and Julie K. Hampton.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. -
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. -
