Latest news with #Paez
Miami Herald
02-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Attorney helps launder $52M for Sinaloa Cartel using CA companies, feds say
A Mexico City attorney accused of working for the Sinaloa Cartel pleaded guilty to helping launder $52.7 million from the U.S. through San Diego shell companies, federal prosecutors said. As a manager of what prosecutors called an 'international money laundering organization,' Hector Alejandro Paez Garcia helped funnel millions in cash that came from the cartel's 'drug trafficking in the United States,' according to court filings. Others involved in the organization visited 'dozens of U.S. cities to pick up' the money, which was moved through 'San Diego-based shell companies and delivered to money laundering accounts in Mexico controlled by Paez,' prosecutors said. Now, Paez has pleaded guilty to an international money laundering conspiracy, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California said in a May 30 news release. Paez's plea hearing occurred May 20 at the San Diego federal courthouse, records show. His court-appointed defense attorney, Carolyn L. Oliver, didn't immediately return McClatchy News' request for comment June 2. Paez, according to prosecutors, is one of several 'participants' charged in the Sinaloa Cartel's money laundering scheme, which was investigated by the FBI. Labeled a foreign terrorist organization and considered 'one of the world's most powerful drug cartels' by the U.S. State Department, the cartel operates out of Sinaloa, a northwestern Mexico state bordering the Sea of Cortez. While the FBI investigated the cartel's scheme, agents seized 66 U.S.-based bank accounts linked to the cartel's drug trafficking proceeds, according to prosecutors. 'As the FBI began to target and seize the (money laundering organization's) assets, Paez turned to the use of cryptocurrency in an attempt to shield those assets from law enforcement,' prosecutors said. The FBI ultimately stopped the organization's cryptocurrency money laundering efforts, according to prosecutors. '(Paez) further acknowledges that the United States can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the amount of money attributable to (Paez's) activity was about $52,725,584,' prosecutors wrote in Paez's plea agreement. The money laundering lasted until the arrests of the scheme's leaders, prosecutors said. Now, Paez's sentencing hearing is set for Aug. 15, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Others involved in the scheme who've been charged include two Florida residents, James Harmon Yarbrough and Jhonatan Suarez Florez, as well as 'alleged leader' Alberto David Benguait Jimenez, according to prosecutors. Jimenez is a fugitive, prosecutors said. The U.S. Attorney's Office encourages anyone with information about Jimenez to call the FBI at 858-320-1800.
Scottish Sun
25-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Who is Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi and how did she kill her colleague Ana Paez?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANGI: Fake Life, True Crime follows the jaw-dropping true story of a woman who lived a lie and ended up at the centre of two major crimes. The Spanish Netflix documentary is set to drop on May 1, 2025. Here's what we know about Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi and her crime. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Maria 'Angi' Molina with her former husband Juan Antonio Alvarez Litben Credit: Netflix Who is Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi? Maria Angeles Molina, known as Angi, was once a boss, a millionaire, and supposedly a close friend to Ana Paez. But that all came crashing down when she ended up murdering her. Ana, a 35-year-old fashion designer, was found dead in a holiday flat in Barcelona on February 19, 2008. The case stunned the public and was quickly dubbed by the media as 'The Near-Perfect Crime.' In 2012, Angi was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the killing. It turned out she had been living a complete double life. She even disguised herself to take out loans and insurance policies in Paez's name, totalling more than a million euros. All of it was set to benefit a woman named Susana B., who, according to the courts, had no idea what was going on. She had simply left her ID behind at a photocopy shop, and Angi used it as part of the con. The court ultimately ruled that Ana's murder was premeditated. Watch first trailer for explosive Netflix show on Jason Corbett killing The series also explores Angi's past, including her marriage to Juan Antonio Alvarez Litben, a businessman who died under strange circumstances back in 1996. That case had gone cold until Ana's murder brought it all back into the spotlight. How did Maria Angeles Molina or Angi kill her colleague Ana Paez? According to the court, Molina went to Paez's flat under the pretence of inviting her out to dinner. But in reality, she had already come up with a plan and, as the ruling put it, had 'decided to kill' Paez. 4 Angi created an elaborate plan to entrap her victim Credit: Netflix On 19 February 2008, she invited Paez to dinner at a flat she'd rented for just three days, using Paez's name. That same morning, Molina had withdrawn 600 euros from an account in Paez's name. CCTV from the bank showed her walking in wearing a wig. 'With the intent of forming an alibi,' the court noted, Molina drove to Zaragoza in a Porsche to collect her father's ashes. He had died the year before. That evening, she returned to Barcelona. Once back in the rented flat, she drugged Paez with a 'product the nature of which has not been identified.' She then placed a plastic bag over Paez's head and sealed it with several strips of insulating tape. She had obtained it from a male brothel, where she paid two sex workers to provide semen samples in a jar in order to stage the crime. When police searched Molina's home, they found an unopened bottle of chloroform and an insurance policy from Carrefour in Paez's name. Without yoghurts or condensed milk I am nothing. Maria 'Angi' Molina Her then-boyfriend also handed over a stash of documents he had discovered hidden behind the bathroom cistern, including Paez's original passport and ID card. The Barcelona High Court stated it was 'unquestionably proven' that Molina had taken out various policies and loans using Paez's identity, based on police reports and witness testimony from bank staff who identified Molina during the trial. Molina denied all charges. She claimed that at the time of the murder, she was out shopping. First, she said she had gone to El Corte Inglés to buy a watch. 4 The murder was dubbed a 'near-perfect crime' Credit: Netflix Then, she said she had stopped by a convenience shop. 'Without yoghurts or condensed milk I am nothing,' she told the magistrates and the stunned family of Paez. In the end, the court concluded that 'the amount and the relevance of the evidence, amply accredited,' left no doubt as to the identity of the killer. Molina was later sentenced to 18 years for the murder, and an additional four years for falsifying documents with the aim of committing fraud. How to watch Angi: Fake Life, True Crime? Through interviews, archive footage and expert insight, Angi: Fake Life, True Crime paints a layered portrait of Angi, the complex and mysterious woman at the heart of the case. The investigation explores her personality, the power dynamics in her relationships, and how some crimes can initially slip through the cracks, escaping the understanding of both investigators and the public. 4 The investigation was deemed 'challenging' but 'revealing' Credit: Netflix Director Carlos Agulló said it had been a 'challenge' getting the material together: 'The investigation surrounding Angi: Fake Life, True Crime has been laborious and also revealing. 'In addition to the proceedings, we have reviewed more than 2,000 pages of case files, crime reports, and family files. 'We have also conducted more than 60 conversations and interviews with retired police officers, private detectives and those close to both cases. 'We have faced a multifaceted investigation, as many as Angi's multiple identities. 'It has been a challenge, a real game of mirrors, and we hope that the viewer can experience the same challenge'. Watch Angi: Fake Life, True Crime will be available on Netflix from May 1, 2025.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- The Sun
Who is Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi and how did she kill her colleague Ana Paez?
ANGI: Fake Life, True Crime follows the jaw-dropping true story of a woman who lived a lie and ended up at the centre of two major crimes. The Spanish Netflix documentary is set to drop on May 1, 2025. Here's what we know about Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi and her crime. Who is Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi? Maria Angeles Molina, known as Angi, was once a boss, a millionaire, and supposedly a close friend to Ana Paez. But that all came crashing down when she ended up murdering her. Ana, a 35-year-old fashion designer, was found dead in a holiday flat in Barcelona on February 19, 2008. The case stunned the public and was quickly dubbed by the media as 'The Near-Perfect Crime.' In 2012, Angi was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the killing. It turned out she had been living a complete double life. She even disguised herself to take out loans and insurance policies in Paez's name, totalling more than a million euros. All of it was set to benefit a woman named Susana B., who, according to the courts, had no idea what was going on. She had simply left her ID behind at a photocopy shop, and Angi used it as part of the con. The court ultimately ruled that Ana's murder was premeditated. Watch first trailer for explosive Netflix show on Jason Corbett killing The series also explores Angi's past, including her marriage to Juan Antonio Alvarez Litben, a businessman who died under strange circumstances back in 1996. That case had gone cold until Ana's murder brought it all back into the spotlight. How did Maria Angeles Molina or Angi kill her colleague Ana Paez? According to the court, Molina went to Paez's flat under the pretence of inviting her out to dinner. But in reality, she had already come up with a plan and, as the ruling put it, had 'decided to kill' Paez. 4 On 19 February 2008, she invited Paez to dinner at a flat she'd rented for just three days, using Paez's name. That same morning, Molina had withdrawn 600 euros from an account in Paez's name. CCTV from the bank showed her walking in wearing a wig. 'With the intent of forming an alibi,' the court noted, Molina drove to Zaragoza in a Porsche to collect her father's ashes. He had died the year before. That evening, she returned to Barcelona. Once back in the rented flat, she drugged Paez with a 'product the nature of which has not been identified.' She then placed a plastic bag over Paez's head and sealed it with several strips of insulating tape. She had obtained it from a male brothel, where she paid two sex workers to provide semen samples in a jar in order to stage the crime. When police searched Molina's home, they found an unopened bottle of chloroform and an insurance policy from Carrefour in Paez's name. Her then-boyfriend also handed over a stash of documents he had discovered hidden behind the bathroom cistern, including Paez's original passport and ID card. The Barcelona High Court stated it was 'unquestionably proven' that Molina had taken out various policies and loans using Paez's identity, based on police reports and witness testimony from bank staff who identified Molina during the trial. Molina denied all charges. She claimed that at the time of the murder, she was out shopping. First, she said she had gone to El Corte Inglés to buy a watch. 4 Then, she said she had stopped by a convenience shop. 'Without yoghurts or condensed milk I am nothing,' she told the magistrates and the stunned family of Paez. In the end, the court concluded that 'the amount and the relevance of the evidence, amply accredited,' left no doubt as to the identity of the killer. Molina was later sentenced to 18 years for the murder, and an additional four years for falsifying documents with the aim of committing fraud. How to watch Angi: Fake Life, True Crime? Through interviews, archive footage and expert insight, Angi: Fake Life, True Crime paints a layered portrait of Angi, the complex and mysterious woman at the heart of the case. The investigation explores her personality, the power dynamics in her relationships, and how some crimes can initially slip through the cracks, escaping the understanding of both investigators and the public. 4 Director Carlos Agulló said it had been a 'challenge' getting the material together: 'The investigation surrounding Angi: Fake Life, True Crime has been laborious and also revealing. 'In addition to the proceedings, we have reviewed more than 2,000 pages of case files, crime reports, and family files. 'We have also conducted more than 60 conversations and interviews with retired police officers, private detectives and those close to both cases. 'We have faced a multifaceted investigation, as many as Angi's multiple identities. 'It has been a challenge, a real game of mirrors, and we hope that the viewer can experience the same challenge'.
The Irish Sun
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Who is Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi and how did she kill her colleague Ana Paez?
ANGI: Fake Life, True Crime follows the jaw-dropping true story of a woman who lived a lie and ended up at the centre of two major crimes. The Spanish Netflix documentary is set to drop on May 1, 2025. Here's what we know about Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi and her crime. 4 Maria 'Angi' Molina with her former husband Juan Antonio Alvarez Litben Credit: Netflix Who is Maria Angeles Molina aka Angi? Maria Angeles Molina, known as Angi, was once a boss, a millionaire, and supposedly a close friend to Ana Paez. But that all came crashing down when she ended up murdering her. Ana, a 35-year-old fashion designer, was found dead in a holiday flat in The case stunned the public and was quickly dubbed by the media as 'The Near-Perfect Crime.' Read more crime news In 2012, Angi was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the killing. It turned out she had been living a complete double life. She even disguised herself to take out loans and insurance policies in Paez's name, totalling more than a million euros. All of it was set to benefit a woman named Susana B., who, according to the courts, had no idea what was going on. Most read in The Sun She had simply left her ID behind at a photocopy shop, and Angi used it as part of the con. The court ultimately ruled that Ana's murder was premeditated. Watch first trailer for explosive Netflix show on Jason Corbett killing The series also explores Angi's past, including her marriage to Juan Antonio Alvarez Litben, a businessman who died under strange circumstances back in 1996. That case had gone cold until Ana's murder brought it all back into the spotlight. How did Maria Angeles Molina or Angi kill her colleague Ana Paez? According to the court, Molina went to Paez's flat under the pretence of inviting her out to dinner. But in reality, she had already come up with a plan and, as the ruling put it, had 'decided to kill' Paez. 4 Angi created an elaborate plan to entrap her victim Credit: Netflix On 19 February 2008, she invited Paez to dinner at a flat she'd rented for just three days, using Paez's name. That same morning, Molina had withdrawn 600 euros from an account in Paez's name. CCTV from the bank showed her walking in wearing a wig. 'With the intent of forming an alibi,' the court noted, Molina drove to Zaragoza in a Porsche to collect her father's ashes. He had died the year before. That evening, she returned to Barcelona. Once back in the rented flat, she drugged Paez with a 'product the nature of which has not been identified.' She then placed a plastic bag over Paez's head and sealed it with several strips of insulating tape. She had obtained it from a male brothel, where she paid two sex workers to provide semen samples in a jar in order to stage the crime. When police searched Molina's home, they found an unopened bottle of chloroform and an insurance policy from Carrefour in Paez's name. Without yoghurts or condensed milk I am nothing. Maria 'Angi' Molina Speaking to the court Her then-boyfriend also handed over a stash of documents he had discovered hidden behind the bathroom cistern, including Paez's original passport and ID card. The Barcelona High Court stated it was 'unquestionably proven' that Molina had taken out various policies and loans using Paez's identity, based on police reports and witness testimony from bank staff who identified Molina during the trial. Molina denied all charges. She claimed that at the time of the murder, she was out shopping. First, she said she had gone to El Corte Inglés to buy a watch. 4 The murder was dubbed a 'near-perfect crime' Credit: Netflix Then, she said she had stopped by a convenience shop. 'Without yoghurts or condensed milk I am nothing,' she told the magistrates and the stunned family of Paez. In the end, the court concluded that 'the amount and the relevance of the evidence, amply accredited,' left no doubt as to the identity of the killer. Molina was later sentenced to 18 years for the murder, and an additional four years for falsifying documents with the aim of committing fraud. How to watch Angi: Fake Life, True Crime? Through interviews, archive footage and expert insight, Angi: Fake Life, True Crime paints a layered portrait of Angi, the complex and mysterious woman at the heart of the case. The investigation explores her personality, the power dynamics in her relationships, and how some crimes can initially slip through the cracks, escaping the understanding of both investigators and the public. 4 The investigation was deemed 'challenging' but 'revealing' Credit: Netflix Director Carlos Agulló said it had been a 'challenge' getting the material together: 'The investigation surrounding Angi: Fake Life, True Crime has been laborious and also revealing. 'In addition to the proceedings, we have reviewed more than 2,000 pages of case files, crime reports, and family files. 'We have also conducted more than 60 conversations and interviews with retired police officers, private detectives and those close to both cases. 'We have faced a multifaceted investigation, as many as Angi's multiple identities. 'It has been a challenge, a real game of mirrors, and we hope that the viewer can experience the same challenge'. Watch Angi: Fake Life, True Crime will be available on Netflix from May 1, 2025.
Zawya
09-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AIM Congress 2025 Enhances Investment Cooperation Prospects Between the UAE, Japan, and Africa
Abu Dhabi, UAE, At AIM Congress 2025, the Africa Regional Forum under the theme 'From Zones to Impact: African SEZs Reimagined' gathered key voices to discuss the evolution of SEZs into innovation-driven, inclusive, and integrated economic ecosystems Laura Paez, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), noted Africa's SEZs have grown from 20 in the 1990s to over 237 by 2020, but many face challenges in diversification and infrastructure. 'There are more than 200 SEZs currently operational across the continent, with varying levels of success. The emerging SEZ 2.0 model emphasizes technology, regional integration, and local value creation aligned with development goals,' said Paez. Jasveer Singh, Cluster Director at Arise IIP, emphasized sustainable industrialization through public-private partnerships. 'We focus on identifying industrial gaps and enabling value-added production at scale through public-private partnerships. Our zones are not just industrial parks — they are platforms for inclusive economic transformation,' said Singh. Gilbert Ewehmeh, Continental Coordinator, Accelerate Africa, called for SEZ models that include SMEs and align with the AfCFTA. 'The standalone model is giving way to interconnected industrial ecosystems that support the full value chain, from raw materials to finished goods. This is the future of SEZs in Africa,' he stated. Dr. Manuel Francisco Pedro, Chairman, Luanda-Bengo SEZ, Angola, stressed stronger governance and infrastructure. 'SEZs must be linked to AfCFTA goals to drive intra-African trade, harmonize standards, and create a coherent investment climate. Institutional support and strong governance are key,' said Dr. Pedro. Japan Talks: Cutting-Edge Innovations Take Center Stage at AIM Congress 2025 In the session 'Japan Talks: Innovations Shaping the World', Japanese leaders showcased next-generation technology and industrial innovation. Miho Sato, Deputy Manager, Yokosuka Research Park (YRP), shared Japan's progress in smart city-focused 6G development. 'We are building the infrastructure to support future urban innovation through 6G and collaborative R&D,' said Sato. Hiroshi Miura, Senior Manager, NTT DATA Group, presented the IOWN technology's role in global data transmission. 'IOWN enables high bandwidth and low latency through light-based data transfer—poised to transform sectors like finance and health,' Miura said. Takaaki Nakamura, Director, NIFCO Inc., emphasized sustainable manufacturing and NIFCO's wide product reach. 'You cannot go more than one meter in Japan without being next to a NIFCO product,' Nakamura remarked. Rashid Al Teneiji, Director of International Business Development, UAE Ministry of Economy, invited deeper UAE-Japan collaboration. 'I hope today's dialogue serves as a launchpad for deeper cooperation between Japan and the UAE,' he said.
