Local merchant jailed for money laundering
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The defendant, Rogelio Cruz Vasquez, entered guilty pleas before Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley to charges of money laundering and illegal sale of alcohol. He was directed to serve 360 days of an eight-year sentence and pay $1,500 in fines. In addition to his jail time here, a hold was placed on him by the immigration department since it is suspected Vasquez is in the country illegally.
His sentence comes after lawmen raided his Skyline neighborhood store, Mi Pueblo, last year. Police found numerous boxes of illegal liquor. They also pointed out Vasquez was selling beer despite the fact he did not have an alcohol license. Over 50 cases of beer were seized along with the illegal liquor.
The money laundering charges were leveled after police determined Vasquez was regularly depositing huge sums of cash into his bank account. Authorities believe Vasquez was using his store as a front to launder “dirty money” made from illegal sales of liquor, beer and possibly other illegal enterprises. Police noted Vasquez had amassed a lengthy felony record prior to opening the store in McMinnville.
Once he is released from local confinement, Vasquez will be on probation for the remainder of his eight-year term. However, he may not have the opportunity to fulfill the probationary sentence here since he faces the possibility of deportation.
Also in question is what Vasquez will face from the IRS since authorities do not believe he was reporting the profits from his illegal alcohol sales for tax purposes. Customs agents are also interested in Vasquez since some of the items found inside the store may have been illegally brought into the country without clearing customs.