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Jun 10th, 2024
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2 hours ago
California Man Arrested for Money Laundering Conspiracy in Connection with Online Pharmacy Websites Wednesday, November 20, 2024 BOSTON – A California man has been arrested and charged in federal court in Boston in connection with a money laundering conspiracy. Jimmy Fu, 63, of West Hills, Calif., was charged by a criminal complaint with one count of a money laundering conspiracy. Fu was arrested on Oct. 30, 2024, and appeared initially in the Central District of California where he resides. Following an initial appearance today in federal court in Boston, Fu was allowed to remain on conditions of release. According to the charging documents, since in or around November 2022, law enforcement has been investigating two online pharmacies believed to be operated out of India that advertised controlled substances for sale and distributing misbranded and counterfeit drugs, including drugs that contain controlled substances. The investigation revealed that online orders placed by customers in the United States were filled in several ways, including by illicit pill press locations operating in the United States as well as via shipments from overseas locations, with several illicit pill manufacturing locations identified as being involved in the shipment and fulfillment of orders. During the investigation, a variety of counterfeit prescription drugs, some of which contained controlled substances, were obtained via 18 undercover purchases. One undercover purchase of 60 Adderall pills was found to contain methamphetamine and caffeine. Another undercover purchase of 90 Adderall pills contained no active pharmaceutical ingredient. It is alleged that Fu was identified as the operator of Axson Engineering, Inc., doing business in Canoga Park, Calif. as “Axson Data.” The business allegedly processed customer payments for controlled substances from the online pharmacies and wired the proceeds of these illegal purchases to various businesses located overseas. It is alleged that the wires were directed to a number of different businesses that identify as information technology consulting businesses, among other things. It is further alleged that all 18 undercover purchases for prescription drugs were processed by Fu’s business, Axson Data, with each of the payments deposited into an Axson bank account. A review of all of Axson’s bank accounts allegedly revealed thousands of checks deposited from individuals across the United States, including Massachusetts, for various amounts of money ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. At least some of these payments allegedly correspond to purchases from the network of online pharmacy websites. It is alleged that, between January 2021 and August 2024, Axson accounts appeared to have received approximately $11.5 million from individuals across the United States. A search warrant executed for an Apple account associated with Axson allegedly revealed, among other things, a photo of a cell phone displaying an image of a drug test showing a positive indicator for methamphetamine, followed by a text message that read: “I ordered Adderall . . . I got this . . . it’s pressed meth. I said if they don’t have real Adderall I would take 20mg Ritalin to replace. They refused unless I sent these back (which is highly illegal).” The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the funds laundered, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, New England; and Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in West Palm Beach, Fla., Northridge, Calif., and Las Vegas; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Federal Air Marshal; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California; Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office; and the Quincy, Framingham and Henderson, Nev. Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, Alexandra Amrhein of the Asset Recovery Unit and Leslie Wright of the Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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3 hours ago
Colombian Drug Kingpin Known as “Don T” Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for International Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Tito Aldemar Ruano Yandun, also known as “Don T,” “Don Ti,” “Don Tito,” “Pedro Linares,” “Pedro AK2,” “Santos,” “Don Tuma,” “Viejo” and “Viejo Loco,” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge William F. [BadWord], II to 20 years in prison for leading an international cocaine distribution conspiracy. Ruano Yandun pleaded guilty to the charge in March 2024. The defendant was also ordered to forfeit $1.5 million in drug proceeds.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), announced the sentence.
“Today’s sentence significantly punishes the defendant for leading a prolific drug trafficking organization that exported thousands of kilograms of cocaine destined for our streets,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “International drug kingpins must face American justice for the misery they have caused in our district and country.”
Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the DEA’s office in Bogota, Colombia, the United States Department of State, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Colombian National Police and the Government of Colombia.
“Today, justice has been delivered. Martin Leonel Perez Castro, who served as a former senior member and one of the highest-level drug trafficking members of the FARC, used violent tactics, which included terrorism, to help distribute shipments of cocaine from Columbia to New York City and the United States” stated Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “While this sentencing closes the door to Mr. Castro’s activities, the DEA and our law enforcement partners, both globally and here in the United States, remain committed to making sure those who use violent and terrorist acts as a measure for illicit drug trade face the justice they deserve.”
As detailed in court documents, the defendant led a sophisticated drug trafficking organization that operated in southwestern Colombia and Ecuador. His organization regularly exported multi-ton quantities of cocaine to Central America and Mexico so that it could eventually be smuggled into the United States. The defendant’s drug trafficking organization trafficked cocaine on behalf of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (i.e., the FARC), helping to fund the FARC’s long-running campaign to overthrow the Government of Colombia.
During the investigation, foreign and U.S. authorities seized thousands of kilograms of cocaine that were being transported by members of the defendant’s organization.
In November 2017, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Ruano Yandun and his organization as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers for their significant role in international narcotics trafficking. At the time of the designation, OFAC stated that Ruano Yandun’s organization was “a key contributor to the increased cocaine production in the Nariño department of Colombia in recent years.” Ruano Yandun was extradited to the Eastern District of New York in October 2023.
The conviction and sentencing of Ruano Yandun are the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the Office and the DEA. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Wang is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
TITO ALDEMAR RUANO YANDUN (also known as “Don T,” “Don Ti,” “Don Tito,” “Pedro Linares,” “Pedro AK2,” “Santos,” “Don Tuma,” “Viejo” and “Viejo Loco”)
Age: 49
Colombia
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-27 (WFK)
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