Mexican Businessman indicted for money laundering by San Antonio federal grand jury
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
A prominent Mexican businessman, Rolando R. Gonzalez-Trevino, of Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico was arrested by U.S. Marshal’s in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, October 31, 2014, on an unsealed federal grand jury indictment from San Antonio, Texas, charging him with alleged money laundering conspiracy, wire transfer fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy or cause to be transported stolen property.
Gonzalez was transferred from Las Vegas, Nevada to San Antonio, Texas after his arrest at the McCarran International Airport upon landing there while visiting the gambling tourist city. Gonzalez was initialed in Las Vegas, Nevada and now faces an Arraignment hearing on November 18, 2014 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Bemporad for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, in San Antonio, Texas.
Gonzalez’s indictment and arrest stems from an investigation by both the U.S. Attorney’s Offices of the Western District and Southern District of Texas involving the alleged money laundering of millions of dollars from the State of Coahuila into the State of Texas by former Coahuila public officials and businessmen during former Coahuila Governor Humberto Moreira’s administration, including former Coahuila State Treasurer Hector Javier Villarreal who already plead guilty in a San Antonio federal court of money laundering and former Coahuila Interim Governor Jorge Juan Torres Lopez has also been indicted but remains a fugitive. Moreira has not been charged of any wrongdoing.
Gonzalez allegedly owns a television company in Mexico and several properties in Texas, including an alleged television station in Eagle Pass, Texas.
The federal indictment also seeks the forfeiture of “any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to…any offense constituting “specified unlawful activity.” The federal government seek a forfeiture judgment of at least $1.8 Million against Gonzalez.
If convicted, Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a special assessment of $100, and supervised release.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court at law.
