Title: Four Flight Attendants Accused of Money Laundering Millions in Fentanyl Profits from US to Dominican Republic
Arrest of Flight Attendants Involved in Money Laundering Scheme
- Four flight attendants, Charlie Hernandez, Sarah Valerio Pujols, Emmanuel Torres, and Jarol Fabio, were arrested on May 7 for money laundering
- Suspects were identified as individuals transporting funds from US drug trade to Dominican Republic
- Known to regularly carry large sums of cash in personal bags
Investigation and Sting Operation
- Investigation began with a tip from suspected members of money laundering organization
- HSI officials set up a sting operation
- Defendants given cash to hand off to accomplices in Dominican Republic
Privileges and Exploitation
- All suspects had ‘known crew member’ status with TSA
- Special airport access privileges enabled them to transport funds without detection for at least three years
Money Laundering Methods and Scheme Details
- Amount laundered: Believed to be over $8 million since at least 2021
- Traditional methods: Still commonly used in money laundering, such as bulk-cash smuggling and trade-based money laundering
- Combination of methods: Criminal organizations employ various techniques to conceal drug trade earnings
Prosecution Statistics
- 1,001 individuals were prosecuted for money laundering in US federal courts in 2022
- Only 17% of these cases involved funds from controlled substances, violence, weapons, national security, or the sexual exploitation of a minor.
(Image description: US Homeland Security agents apprehending a flight attendant accused of smuggling money from JFK airport to the Dominican Republic, photo by Fox News)