The Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force has seized more than half a million dollars agents say is part of a money laundering operation out of east Fort Bend County illegally smuggling U.S. currency into Mexico.
The four-month investigation culminated in Fresno on Oct. 14 when drug agents were conducting surveillance on 41-year-old Pasadena resident Jamie A. Reyes. Reyes was stopped in a vehicle agents say is specially designed to transport currency to Mexico.
Reyes was stopped near the 400 block of Dallas Street, and drug agents allegedly found $272,391 in a “specially designed compartment” of the vehicle. Reyes was arrested and charged with money laundering. He is being held without bond at the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.
The investigation continued in the county of Refugio, where a second vehicle identified in the smuggling operation was located. A roadside search of the vehicle reveled an additional $213,900 in a specially designed compartment, according to drug agents. Leslie Ann Garza, 20, of Rio Grand City and Barbara Juanita Villegas, 21, of Houston, were arrested and charged with money laundering.
The Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force seized the U.S. Currency under the Chapter 59 statue through the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office.
