Leader of Professional Money Laundering Ring Pleads Guilty in Texas

Feb 12, 2013 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice

This case reached the guilty plea stage in the Department of Justice's public record. Everything below reflects only what the government itself announced, and links to the original release.

One of the leaders of an organization that laundered more than $20 million through “shell” business bank accounts pleaded guilty today in federal court in Houston.

District

Southern Texas

Announced

Feb 12, 2013

Status

Guilty plea

Defendants

Enrique Morales — age 42 · Houston; Guadalajara, Mexico · pleaded guilty
Willie Whitehurst — age 44 · Houston · pleaded guilty
Fulton Smith — age 40 · Houston · pleaded guilty
Anthony Foster — age 47 · Houston · pleaded guilty
Sarah Combs — age 48 · Dickinson, Texas · pleaded guilty

Charges

Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Max: 20 years in prisonEnrique Morales· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
Max: 5 years in prisonEnrique Morales· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Max: 20 years in prisonWillie Whitehurst· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
Max: 5 years in prisonWillie Whitehurst· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Max: 20 years in prisonFulton Smith· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
Max: 5 years in prisonFulton Smith· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Max: 20 years in prisonAnthony Foster· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
Max: 5 years in prisonAnthony Foster· pleaded guilty
Conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
Max: 5 years in prisonSarah Combs· pleaded guilty

Financial actions

fine: $500,000 — Maximum fine for money laundering conspiracy, or twice the value of the property involved in the offense, whichever is greater
fine: $500,000 — Maximum fine for money laundering conspiracy, or twice the value of the property involved in the offense, whichever is greater
fine: $500,000 — Maximum fine for money laundering conspiracy, or twice the value of the property involved in the offense, whichever is greater
fine: $500,000 — Maximum fine for money laundering conspiracy, or twice the value of the property involved in the offense, whichever is greater
fine: $250,000 — Maximum fine for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
fine: $250,000 — Maximum fine for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
fine: $250,000 — Maximum fine for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
fine: $250,000 — Maximum fine for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
fine: $250,000 — Maximum fine for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business

Investigating agencies

Drug Enforcement AdministrationInternal Revenue Service – Criminal InvestigationU.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of TexasJustice Department Criminal Division, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, Money Laundering and Bank Integrity Unit

Case details

Prosecuting office: Southern District of Texas
Judge: Lee H. Rosenthal, U.S. District Judge

Bank Secrecy Act And Financial Integrity EnforcementBlack Market Peso ExchangeDrug Trafficking / NarcoticsFederal Prosecution And SentencingInteragency Law Enforcement InvestigationInternational Cooperation / Cross-Border CrimeMoney LaunderingShell CompaniesUnlicensed Money Transmitting Business

Primary source

Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.

Read the original DOJ release →

This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.