Mexican drug and money laundering ring had ties to KC, feds say

Two Kansas City residents are among 40 people indicted in California in a massive scheme to launder drug trafficking money.

The federal court indictment alleges that members of the group moved tens of millions of dollars in illegal drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico since 2015.

Authorities have seized about $6 million in cash during the investigation.

About $100,000 of that was seized in the Kansas City area along with more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine and three kilograms of cocaine, according to federal prosecutors.

The two Kansas City residents named in the California indictment are Juan Duarte-Tello, 44, and Diana Aurora Holguin-Gallegos, 30.

They were allegedly couriers who helped transport cash from the United States to Mexico, according to the indictment filed in San Diego.

Both are in custody after being previously charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from houses they rented in Kansas City and Kansas City, Kan.

This story was originally published March 9, 2018 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Mexican drug and money laundering ring had ties to KC, feds say."