Money laundering, illegal alien charges behind Friday raid

By Kyle Martin Staff Writer
Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 2:20 PM
Last updated 2:26 PM

Allegations of money laundering and harboring of illegal aliens prompted Friday’s raid on an Evans residence, according to indictments read this morning in federal court.

The most serious charges are against husband and wife Hugo Diaz and Blanca Miranda De Diaz, who are accused of knowingly sheltering illegal aliens. They used the proceeds from the work of those immigrants to purchase a $1.7 million home and multiple vehicles, which led to the money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering charges, U.S. Magistrate Judge Leon Barfield said in U.S. District Court in Augusta.

Facing a petty charge of entering the United States illegally are Arturo Domiinquez-Suaste, Reyes Fredrico Lopez-Garcia, Jesus Vazquez-Trejo, Carlos Suarez Ortega, Rigoberto Loza-Marquez, Estaban Jarquin-Esteba, and Heris Francisco Medina-Ramires.

All entered not guilty pleas today ,and Barfield ordered them temporarily held in the U.S. marshal’s custody until retainers could be placed on the defendants by immigration authorities.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/crime ... 1320675980