Authorities say a ransom paid for an American who delivered cocaine for a drug cartel led them to a scheme to launder drug money through businesses in the fashion district of Los Angeles.
Court documents obtained Thursday allege the $140,000 ransom was paid in cash to a district wholesaler on the day the American was freed from captivity in Mexico.
Dozens of businesses were raided by the FBI, homeland security and other officials this week in a broad crackdown on money laundering in Los Angeles.
The U.S. attorney's office said authorities seized more than $100 million and searched roughly 50 of the 3,000 businesses in the district.
Nine people were arrested in connection with three indictments on charges related to financial violations, including the 2012 case involving the ransom.
Cartel laundered ransom money in a Los Angeles fashion hub
Authorities say a ransom paid for an American who delivered cocaine for a drug cartel led them to a scheme to launder drug money through businesses in the fashion district of Los Angeles.
Court documents obtained Thursday allege the $140,000 ransom was paid in cash to a district wholesaler on the day the American was freed from captivity in Mexico.
Dozens of businesses were raided by the FBI, homeland security and other officials this week in a broad crackdown on money laundering in Los Angeles.
The U.S. attorney's office said authorities seized more than $100 million and searched roughly 50 of the 3,000 businesses in the district.
Nine people were arrested in connection with three indictments on charges related to financial violations, including the 2012 case involving the ransom.
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