Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Divisions
      • Atlanta
        • Atlanta Leadership
        • Atlanta Contacts
      • Caribbean
        • Caribbean Leadership
        • Caribbean Contacts
      • Chicago
        • Chicago Leadership
        • Chicago Contacts
      • Dallas
        • Dallas Leadership
        • Dallas Contacts
      • Denver
        • Denver Leadership
        • Denver Contacts
      • Detroit
        • Detroit Contacts
      • El Paso
        • El Paso Contacts
      • Headquarters
      • Houston
        • Houston Leadership
        • Houston Contacts
      • Los Angeles
        • Los Angeles Leadership
        • Los Angeles Contacts
      • Louisville
        • Louisville Leadership
        • Louisville Contacts
      • Miami
        • Miami Leadership
        • Miami Contacts
      • New England
        • New England Leadership
        • New England Contacts
      • New Jersey
        • New Jersey Leadership
        • New Jersey Contacts
      • New Orleans
        • New Orleans Leadership
        • New Orleans Contacts
      • New York
        • New York Leadership
        • New York Contacts
      • Omaha
        • Omaha Leadership
        • Omaha Contacts
      • Philadelphia
        • Philadelphia Leadership
        • Philadelphia Contacts
      • Phoenix
        • Phoenix Leadership
        • Phoenix Contacts
      • San Diego
        • San Diego Leadership
        • San Diego Contacts
      • San Francisco
        • San Francisco Leadership
        • San Francisco Contacts
      • Seattle
        • Seattle Contacts
      • St. Louis
        • St. Louis Leadership
        • St. Louis Contacts
      • Washington, DC
        • Washington Leadership
        • Washington Contacts
    • DEA Museum
    • Foreign Offices
      • Africa
      • Andean
      • Caribbean
      • Europe
      • Far East
      • Middle East
      • North and Central America
      • Southern Cone
    • Operational Divisions
      • Aviation Division
      • Diversion Control Division
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
      • Submit a Tip
      • Extortion Scam
      • Congressional and Public Affairs
      • Social Media Directory
  • What We Do
    • Orden público
      • DEA Office of Training
        • Office of Training Programs
      • El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
        • Leadership
        • Mission
        • Services
        • Contacts
      • Forensic Sciences
        • Computer Forensics Program
        • Environmental Management
        • Laboratories
      • Intelligence
      • Operations
        • Administrative Law Judges
        • DEA Asset Forfeiture
        • Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program
        • HIDTA
        • OCDETF
        • State and Local Task Forces
    • Education and Prevention
      • Family Summit 2022
      • Operation Engage
      • Community Outreach
      • Just Think Twice
      • Campus Drug Prevention
      • Get Smart About Drugs
      • Operation Prevention
    • Drug Information
      • Drug Policy
      • Drug Scheduling
      • The Controlled Substances Act
    • News
      • Alerts
      • Press Releases
      • Most Wanted Fugitives
        • All Fugitives
      • Stories
      • Events
      • Speeches
      • Testimony
    • Campaigns
      • One Pill Can Kill
        • Partner Toolbox
        • Social Media Campaign
      • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
      • Red Ribbon
        • Kiki and the History of Red Ribbon Week
        • Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
      • Contact Your Local Recruiter
      • Special Agent FAQs
      • Special Agent Job Announcements
      • What it takes to be a DEA Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
      • Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements
      • Intelligence Research Specialists FAQs
      • Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • How to Apply
      • Equal Opportunity Employer
      • Employment Requirements
      • How To Claim Veterans' Preference
      • Priority Consideration
      • Benefits
      • Veterans and People With Disabilities
  • Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Data and Statistics
      • Domestic Arrests
      • Staffing and Budget
    • FOIA
      • About FOIA
      • Contact DEA FOIA
      • Make a Request
      • What Happens After Making a Request
      • Requester Categories
      • Fees Charged
      • Fee Waiver
      • FOIA FAQ
      • FOIA Library
      • FOIA Logs and Reports
      • FOIA Additional Resources
      • Additional FOIA Links
      • FOIA Exemptions
      • What Are Exclusions?
      • Privacy Act
      • Privacy Act Exemptions
      • Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
      • Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

  • Search
  • Full Menu

Main Menu

  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Careers
  • Resources
  • Submit A Tip
  • Get Updates
  • English
  • ES

Drug Enforcement Administration

Shelly S. Howe Special Agent in Charge
San Diego
@DEASanDiegoDiv
October 13, 2017
Contact: Kameron Korte
Phone Number: (571) 324-6204
For Immediate Release

Chula Vista Airplane Broker Who Managed Money Laundering Crew Using Drug Proceeds Sentenced To 60 Months

Millions in cash drug proceeds deposits made nationwide for purchase of over 35 airplanes for export to Mexico

SAN DIEGO - Chula Vista airplane broker Vicente Contreras-Amezquita of Chula Vista was sentenced today to 60 months in custody after Contreras-Amezuita pled in federal court to money laundering charges. In  his plea he admitted helping hide the true origin of illegal money through the purchase of over 35 airplanes by engaging in convoluted financial transactions during a five-year period.

In the sentencing this morning U.S. District Court Judge Michael M. Anello found that the money was derived from drug proceeds.

"This sentence is a reminder that people who launder money for drug traffickers are committing a serious crime," says DEA San Diego Special Agent-in-Charge William R. Sherman. “Living the high life on drug proceeds will lead to a crash and burn."

On March 1, 2017, Vicente Contreras-Amezquita entered a guilty plea before Judge Anello to conspiracy to launder drug proceeds and conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions. As admitted in federal court, Contreras-Amezquita, the owner and manager of Aeropartes Baja and Vekve Corporation, located in Chula Vista, facilitated the purchase of over 35 airplanes and airplane parts for exportation to Mexico. He did so by laundering and structuring bulk unlawful proceeds into 46 business and personal bank accounts he controlled and managed. 

Over a five year period, Contreras-Amezquita admitted his money laundering crew deposited over $3.6 million in 525 structured cash deposits intended for the purchase of over 35 airplanes for exportation to Mexico. He further admitted that he facilitated the purchase of airplanes for exportation and deregistration to Mexico on behalf of third parties to conceal the origin and source of the bulk cash, which Contreras-Amezquita knew was criminally derived from unlawful proceeds. Contreras-Amezquita also admitted that he knew that any financial institution that engages in a currency transaction involving more than $10,000 in cash must file a report of the transaction to the U.S. Treasury Department, which Contreras-Amezquita wanted to avoid.

To conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the criminal proceeds, and to evade the reporting requirements, Contreras-Amezquita admitted he made arrangements to receive bulk cash at various locations, including strip malls, parking lots, aircraft hangars, and fast-food restaurants, for the purchase of planes by third parties, who wanted to disguise the source of the cash.

Immediately after receiving the bulk cash, and to facilitate the charged conspiracies, Contreras-Amezquita admitted he would direct and instruct his crew to arrange for structured cash (under $10,000) into different financial institutions on the same and consecutive days, using multiple bank accounts at multiple branch offices. Contreras-Amezquita’s money laundering crew made structured cash deposits in several locations in California, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, and Georgia.  Contreras-Amezquita agreed that he purposefully and intentionally engaged in convoluted financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illegal cash proceeds.

According to court documents, federal agents seized approximately $104,000 in cash during a traffic stop on November 25, 2011, and approximately $249,820 in cash on December 19, 2011, from Contreras-Amezquita, and forfeited the bulk cash, which was contained in cardboard boxes, as drug proceeds. Federal agents also seized and forfeited an airplane in Florida, which was destined for Mexico, in January 2012.

Contreras-Amezquita facilitated the acquisition and purchase of Cessnas and airplane parts, including auxiliary fuel tanks, heavy duty tires and landing gear for landing on clandestine airfields. Cessna 206s and 210s are the types of airplanes generally preferred by drug-trafficking organizations operating in Mexico because of their reliability, speed and ability to carry heavy payloads over long distances.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Domestic Divisions
    • Foreign Offices
    • Contact Us
    • DEA Museum
  • What We Do
    • Drug Prevention
    • Law Enforcement
    • Diversion Control Division
    • News
  • Careers
    • Overview
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
  • Resources
    • Drug Information
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Equal Opportunity Employer
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • VWAP
  • Doing Business
    with the DEA
    • Overview
    • Current Vendors
    • Prospective Vendors
    • Security Clauses
    • Security Forms
    • Small Business Program
  • Policies
    • Accessibility, Plug-ins & Policy
    • Legal Policies & Disclaimers
    • No FEAR Act
    • Privacy Policy
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Whistleblower Protection
Home

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram

DEA Contact Center

(202) 307-1000 info@dea.gov
Contact the Webmaster