El Paso lawyer arrested for money laundering www.privateofficer.com

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El Paso TX Nov 9 2012El Paso lawyer Marco Antonio Delgado, 46, was arrested on charges of conspiracyto commit money laundering of over $1 million, federal officials said.Agents from the office of Homeland Security Investigationsarrested Delgado on Friday at a West Siderestaurant, a representative from the office of Immigration and CustomsEnforcement said.Delgado allegedly worked with the Milenio drug cartel, orCártel de los Valencia,based in the Mexican state of Jalisco, officials said.The local attorney had his initial appearance in federalcourt Monday afternoon. A federal magistrate scheduled a detention hearing for9:30 a.m. Thursday.Delgado will remain detained at the County Jailwithout bond.The indictment against Delgado was still sealed Mondayafternoon.According to ICE, the local attorney allegedly conspiredwith other individuals to launder money believed to be from drug-traffickingproceeds between July 2007 and December 2008.The investigation revealed that Delgado is linked to theMexican drug organization and conspired to launder more that $600 million.Delgado allegedly delayed extradition warrants of Mexican nationals servingsentences on drug charges in the United States, according to ICE.Delgado's defense attorney, José Montes Jr., declined tocomment on the case, but mentioned that his client will plead not guilty on themoney laundering charges. If found guilty, Delgado could face up to 20 years inprisonand pay a maximum of a $250,000 fine.Montes Jr. confirmed that his client worked at Delgado &Associates, P.C., located on the West Side.The law firm was operating Monday. A woman who answered thephone declined to comment on the lawyer's arrest.According to its website, the law firm has offices in Texas; Calgary, Canada; Distrito Federal, México; Sao Paulo, Brazil;and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos islands.It describes itself as a "boutique law firm uniquelydesigned and committed to provide its clients with unparalleled legal servicesin the areas of energy regulation (power and gas), alternative energy,international business, international energy, and international transactionplanning."The Web links that lead to the firm's members andsignificant cases are "under construction."The investigation that led to the arrest of Delgado wascoordinated by HSI El Paso's financial group and the HSI-led Southwest BorderFinancial Operations and Currency United Strike Force, a multi-agency groupthat includes federal and state agencies that target financial crimes.
Source-El Paso Times