Leopoldo Lora Aguilera, 58, of Chula Vista was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for his role in an international money laundering scheme, announced the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Aguilera, a former Wells Fargo personal banker admitted to opening bank accounts under false names and wiring millions of dollars to Mexico. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, he used cash payments for an unspecified organization that was linked “to the sale of narcotics by a
Mexican drug cartel, specifically the sale of multi-kilogram amounts of fentanyl in the Midwest”.
During his time at Wells Fargo, Aguilera opened 26 bank accounts for a money laundering organization. Of those accounts, he created 11 accounts with false names, passport numbers, and dates of birth.
Prosecutors alleged he wired $3.8 million to Mexico using those fake accounts, and he conducted most of the wire transfers himself. Authorities arrested Aguilera in 2019.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the investigation into Aguilera led to the arrests of three others last year who has since plead guilty to taking part in the money laundering scheme.
