October 14, 2022
In one of the few cases the United States has brought against an Iranian for an offense other than busting sanctions, a 51-year-old Iranian has been sentenced to 3-1/3 years in prison for laundering money on behalf of Mexican drug dealers.
Mohsen Mohammadi-Mohammadi pleaded guilty December 1 and was sentenced February 9.
US District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo of Laredo, Texas, ordered him to serve a total of 40 months in prison. As he is not a US citizen, Mohammadi is expected to face deportation when he finishes his sentence. The judge also ordered Mohammadi to forfeit $177,345, the sum he laundered.
From October 2011 to October 2013, Mohammadi obtained monies from the sale of illegal drugs into Mexico. Co-conspirators would launder drug proceeds through international trade. As a result, Mexico-based drug dealers ultimately received their profits in Mexican pesos.
Conspirators would pick up drug proceeds from cities in the United States and move them to Laredo, Texas, where Moham-madi lived. There, the monies were laundered through commodities businesses such as perfume sellers. Mohammadi owned such a business known as Mav Trading Inc.
At the time of his plea, he admitted he received drug proceeds as payment for merchandise sold to Mexican businesses.
Following the issuance of an arrest warrant, Mohammadi fled to Iran. He traveled to a variety of places and eventually landed in New York City, where he was taken into custody.