Posted on 02/07/2018 4:48:14 PM PST by nickcarraway
Sentencing is scheduled for April. 20 – coincidentally, a celebratory day in cannabis culture
In a guilty plea deal, the Miami Lakes man who hid $22 million of suspected marijuana trafficking funds in five-gallon buckets will keep $4 million, his home, his hydroponics garden supplies store and five Rolex watches.
Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez, 46, on Wednesday pleaded guilty in federal court to money laundering and structuring bank deposits to avoid the federal government's reporting requirement, known as smurfing, his attorney confirmed to NBC 6.
Marijuana trafficking and other charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
The June 2016 raid on Hernandez-Gonzalez's home was the largest money seizure in the Miami-Dade Police Department's history – money found hidden in 24 buckets purchased at Home Depot.
Hernandez-Gonzalez's The Blossom Experience store in Miami-Dade sold items such as lights, fertilizers and watering equipment for indoor gardening. Similar businesses – though legal – have long been accused of facilitating and encouraging the underground production of marijuana.
Hernandez-Gonzalez was recorded in conversation giving advice to others on how to care for marijuana plants and he later admitted to helping customers grow cannabis, authorities said.
Hernandez-Gonzalez faces up to 30 years in prison. However, his defense team hopes he receives a lower sentence of about five years.
Why didn’t he open a Chicken Restaurant?
Jim from C-Town wrote:
Why didn’t he open a Chicken Restaurant?
‘cause he was el stupido? HA!
Sweet deal. I would do 5 years 4 four million, I would be first in line...
Does he donate to Democrats?
You might need some lube...Especially if you are first in line.
Hmmn, who are the bigger criminals? Guy keeps 4mil, they keep 18mil out of 22mil. Seizure profits.
Why are they being so lenient? Is it because he is Hispanic? Perhaps an illegal alien?
Yup. Another one just doing the jobs that real Americans won’t do.
I knew you would see the humor in that...
Rather .... kindling.
I’m impressed he was frugal enough to use $2 Home depot buckets
Guy was not very financially savy ... had he not heard of BoA or HSBC and their specials for “Money Laundering” for drug cartels and independents?
Back in the 80s around Hampstead, MD an old livestock dealer, speculator, local money lender named Rabbit(True), died. The IRS, suspecting tax evasion over about 60 years, came in and turned his farmstead upside down. They unearthed several 10 gallon milk cans buried behind the house. Million$.
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