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Compton residents laundered millions in meth proceeds through cash at ATMs: IRS
Compton residents are accused of moving millions of dollars by depositing and withdrawing cash at ATMs to launder money associated with methamphetamine trafficking.
In an application for a search warrant first reported by Seamus Hughes' Court Watch, Ronny Beltran, Maria Munoz and an LLC called Zamudio Construction were all tied to a home in the 900 block of West 152nd Street, as detailed in an affidavit from IRS Special Agent Ryan Bennett.
Zamudio, however, is not in the construction industry, Bennett wrote.
'While the activity in the Zamudio Accounts does not appear to be consistent with the operation of a legitimate construction company, based on my training, experience, and knowledge of this investigation, it does appear to be consistent with the laundering of drug proceeds,' Bennett said.
That activity includes cash deposits totaling approximately $2.9 million made in Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Virginia, Washington, Colorado, and New York, as well as withdrawals of $1.4 million in cash from Southern California bank locations and ATMs.
Those withdrawals, largely in Compton, Gardena and Inglewood, were joined by $1.4 million in wire transfers to 'suspected Mexican bank accounts in the name of several Mexican entities' and 'offroad vehicle dealerships and related aftermarket parts dealers.'
'During the period from January 2022 to August 2024, while there were a few incoming out-of-state wire transfers that referenced construction or remodeling and a few transactions at hardware stores, these transactions accounted for less than 3% of the activity in the Zamudio Accounts,' Bennett wrote.
As for the source of the money, federal officials believe it came from the transportation of methamphetamine, something for which Beltran was convicted in 2014.
Beltran and Munoz were also allegedly caught with a large amount of meth during the period in which these transactions were made.
'On June 22, 2023, officers from the Fontana Police Department seized approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine from BELTRAN and MUNOZ's vehicle, and after obtaining consent to search the [Compton address], officers seized an additional 47 pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms,' the affidavit explains.
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