CHICAGO — A Guadalajara-based Mexican national has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for laundering over $5.5 million in drug money across the United States and funneling the proceeds back to Mexico.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Jose Manuel Martinez Gomez, 52, known by the alias “Meno,” operated as a money broker — collecting and disguising illegal narcotics profits from drug traffickers across the country. Martinez was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Drug Profits Disguised Through Cryptocurrency and Cash
Court documents revealed that Martinez Gomez coordinated the collection of drug proceeds from various U.S. cities. He then converted those proceeds into cryptocurrency or structured cash movements, effectively cleaning the money and repatriating it to drug trafficking organizations in Mexico.
In exchange for his role, Martinez earned a commission percentage from each transfer…