U.S. charges ex-DEA agent with laundering millions in drug funds
FEBRUARY 21, 2020 / 5:36 PM / UPDATED 36 MINUTES AGO
Brad Heath
3 MIN READ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities arrested a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent on Friday on charges he conspired with Colombian drug traffickers to steal millions of dollars the U.S. government had seized from suspected dealers.
In an indictment unsealed Friday, prosecutors said Jose Irizarry had been “enriching himself by secretly using his position and his special access to information.” He used the money, they said, to fund a lavish lifestyle of expensive homes and cars and a $30,000 Tiffany ring.
Federal prosecutors said Irizarry used his position with the drug agency to launder money with the help of what they described as a “Colombia-based drug trafficking and money laundering organization” that he was ostensibly investigating. Prosecutors also charged his wife, Nathalia Gomez-Irizarry.
FBI agents arrested Irizarry and his wife Friday in Puerto Rico. They are charged with 19 counts of fraud, conspiracy and identity theft.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-drugs/u-s-charges-ex-dea-agent-with-laundering-millions-in-drug-funds-idUSKBN20F2WW?rpc=401&
