Uruguayan Guilty of Moving Nearly $100,000 into U.S. to Evade Venezuela Sanctions
Irazmar Carbajal De Jesus, a 60-year-old Uruguayan man, admitted to agreeing to transfer nearly $100,000 in cash from the Dominican Republic to a bank account in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, through an unlicensed money services business. The funds were connected to a Venezuelan government official subject to U.S. sanctions.
Carbajal and his partner charged a 20% fee for this illicit service, which involved creating fraudulent invoices to justify the transactions and using multiple bank accounts to avoid detection. The funds were covertly referred to using code words to mask their origin.
This case underscores the complexity and persistence of methods employed to circumvent U.S. sanctions targeting Venezuelan officials amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. It highlights the risks financial institutions face from illicit fund transfers and the importance of vigilance in enforcing sanctions.
The conviction serves as part of broader U.S. efforts to cut off financial support to sanctioned foreign actors and prevent illegal money flows that could destabilize the region or support illicit activities.
