More Than $13 Million Forfeited Against Multiple Individuals in Car Nationalization Business
May 2, 2018 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice
Seven people have been ordered to forfeit more than $13 million following their convictions related to a car nationalization business
Defendants
- Alejandro Cerda — age 44 · Laredo · pleaded guilty
- Juan Carlos Cerda — age 39 · Laredo · pleaded guilty
- Ofelia Jenkins — age 67 · Laredo · pleaded guilty
- Adrian Reyna — age 37 · Laredo · pleaded guilty
- Elias Ibanez — age 51 · Laredo · pleaded guilty
- Gerardo Cadena — age 38 · Laredo · pleaded guilty
- Roberto Cuevas — age 42 · Laredo · pleaded guilty
Charges
Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business
Alejandro Cerda· pleaded guilty
Making false statements on tax returns
Alejandro Cerda· pleaded guilty
Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business
Juan Carlos Cerda· pleaded guilty
Making false statements on tax returns
Juan Carlos Cerda· pleaded guilty
Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business
Ofelia Jenkins· pleaded guilty
Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business
Adrian Reyna· pleaded guilty
Structuring international monetary transactions
Elias Ibanez· pleaded guilty
Structuring international monetary transactions
Gerardo Cadena· pleaded guilty
Structuring international monetary transactions
Roberto Cuevas· pleaded guilty
Financial actions
- forfeiture: $7.4 million — Real property forfeited following convictions for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and making false statements on tax returns
- forfeiture: $5.2 million — Forfeiture ordered following convictions for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and making false statements on tax returns
- fine: $45,000 — Money judgement for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business
- fine: $16,000 — Money judgement for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business
- fine: $250,000 — Money judgement for structuring international monetary transactions
- fine: $250,000 — Money judgement for structuring international monetary transactions
- fine: $250,000 — Money judgement for structuring international monetary transactions
Investigating agencies
Case details
- Prosecuting office
- Southern District of Texas
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.