Today, the U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Michelle Alvarado, a 27-year-old resident of Georgia, pled guilty to charges related to money laundering and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. The plea was entered on November 27, 2024, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.
Alvarado faced two counts from a superseding indictment. Count Two involved conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, while Count Three involved interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Both charges fall under Title 18 of the United States Code.
Court documents revealed that Alvarado and her co-conspirators traveled between New Orleans and other states to transport U.S. currency and narcotics for a Drug Trafficking Organization operating from Louisiana to Mexico.
For the money laundering charge, Alvarado faces up to twenty years in prison, a fine up to $500,000, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. The charge for interstate travel carries a maximum term of five years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, three years supervised release, and another mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at disrupting high-level criminal organizations through collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Orleans Field Division Office with support from various agencies including the FBI and multiple local police departments. Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman is handling the prosecution.