By Federal Bureau of Investigation ….
EDITOR’S NOTE: CoinWeek previously reported on this investigation on April 17, 2017. —CW
Four Peruvian citizens were indicted for their alleged involvement in a multi-billion dollar, international gold money laundering scheme.
On November 16, 2017, Pedro David Perez Miranda, a/k/a “Peter Ferrari,” a/k/a “Peter,” 57, of Lima, Gian Piere Perez Gutierrez, a/k/a “GP,” 33, of Lima, Peter Davis Perez Gutierrez, a/k/a “Peter Jr.,” 33, of Lima, and Jose Estuardo Morales Diaz, a/k/a “Pepe Morales,” 50, of Lima, were charged in a single-count Indictment for their alleged participation in a gold money laundering scheme (U.S. v. Miranda, Case No. 17-cr-20814). Gian Piere Perez Gutierrez and Peter Davis Perez Gutierrez were arrested in connection with this scheme.
Also named in the Indictment are alleged co-conspirators Samer H. Barrage, Renato J. Rodriguez, and Juan P. Granda who previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in related case: U.S. v. Barrage, et al., Case No. 17-cr-20215.
According to Barrage and Granda’s factual proffer in Case No. 17-cr-20215, from January 2013 through March 2017, Barrage, Rodriguez, Granda, and others conspired to purchase billions of dollars of criminally derived gold from Latin America and the Caribbean, which they believed to be or which in fact were the proceeds of unlawful criminal activities (including illegal mining, foreign bribery, foreign smuggling, foreign narcotics trafficking, and the entry of goods into the United States by false means and statements), through Elemetal LLC, a dealer in precious metals operating in the Southern District of Florida and “financial institution,” as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(c)(6)(A), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section Sections 1956(h) and 1957.
In addition, Barrage, Rodriguez, Granda, and others conspired to promote criminal activities (including illegal mining, foreign bribery, foreign smuggling, foreign narcotics trafficking, and the entry of goods into the United States by false means and statements) by transmitting billions of dollars of wire payments from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean to promote the delivery of additional criminally derived gold, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section Sections 1956(h) and 1956(a)(2)(A).
These cases are the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) “Operation Arch Stanton”, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Mr. Hummel commended the investigative efforts of the DEA-Peru, FBI, ICE-HSI, DEA-Miami, and IRS-CI. Mr. Hummel also thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Peruvian Government for their assistance in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco R. Maderal.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Randy A. Hummel, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida; Carlos L. Mitchem, Regional Director, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA-Peru), Southern Cone Region; Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office; Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA-Miami), Miami Field Office; and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
