Colorado Springs Mexican Restaurants Appear To Be Involved In Alleged Drug Money Stock System | Colorado Springs News
Several fast-food Mexican restaurants in Colorado Springs seem to be involved in which federal prosecutors say it is a money-laundering scheme involving the proceeds of drug trafficking.
Prosecutors filed fault papers in November and denied 13 defendants in Wyoming and Colorado, The Casper Star-Tribune reported. Because the prosecutor's complaint is sealed, claims are not visible to the public, but online legal information indicates that filing is for a drug-related property seizure.
The total amount seized is not clear, but 17 bank accounts were frozen, Star-Tribune reported. At least two of these accounts were safes, which contained $ 428,896 and $ 376,230 cash, the documents show.
Colorado Springs restaurants, named in a federal court, contain three Taco Star sites on 318 N. Wahsatch Ave., 7434 Ridgewood Drive and 605 N. Circle Drive; two Monica Taco Shop locations, at 30 E. Fillmore St. and 1805 Westmoreland Road; and Albertacos at 4494 Austin Bluffs Parkway.
Rodolfos Mexican Grill in Cheyenne is also among the restaurants called in federal documents, Star-Tribune reported. Hilario Montejano-Aleman, the restaurant owner, also runs Viva El Taco at 5945 N. Academy Blvd. One of his bank accounts associated with the Colorado restaurant was also frozen.
During December, lawyers for five of the applicants replied to the government's claims, the Star-Tribune reported. These responses indicate that prosecutors claim that their clients used fast food restaurants to engage in money laundering. All five answers deny the allegations.
Attempts to reach an advocate for a US law office were not successful Friday.
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