Feds agree to return $200k to accused money launderer

By Guillermo ContrerasPublished 10:02 p.m.,
Wednesday, September 26, 2012 The federal government has agreed to return $201,187 to an accused cartel money launderer that was seized from his son.

Lawyers for Antonio Peña Arguelles sued to get the money back two months ago after it was seized from his son, Antonio Pena Jr., during a raid.

Peña Jr., 29, was arrested July 18 after he and two other men allegedly assaulted his father's girlfriend at his father's home in the Champions Ridge subdivision in Stone Oak — where the three men were involved in a standoff with the San Antonio police SWAT unit.

The trio believed the woman was responsible for the elder Peña, 59, landing in jail.

The home at 311 Joshua Way is also where the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested the elder Peña in February on charges that he had been laundering money for the Zetas and the Gulf cartels since 2000 through banks in San Antonio. The feds also allege he served as an intermediary for cartel leaders and corrupt Mexican officials.

Lawyers with Goldstein, Goldstein & Hilley have said the check is not from money laundering proceeds but legitimate funds — a payment from a construction company to the elder Peña for a loan he provided in 1999. They said the younger Peña was supposed to deliver it to the law firm so it could be taken to his father, who would then sign it over to his lawyers.

The move comes as the elder Peña has been trying to negotiate a plea deal.

Prosecutors have offered the elder Peña fewer than 10 years in prison in exchange for his plea to money-laundering conspiracy and full cooperation against cartel figures and corrupt Mexican politicians.

Peña's lawyers have declined comment on those plea negotiations.

Records show the elder Peña, who remains in a federal jail, is scheduled for trial Nov. 19 before U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia.

The younger Peña and two co-defendants, Marco Antonio Garcia, 32, and Santiago Martinez, 33, are out on bond on state charges of burglary with intent to commit a felony-retaliation.

gcontreras@ express-news.net

Feds agree to return $200k to accused money launderer - San Antonio Express-News