FBI- Los Zetas drug cartel launders millions through U.S. quarter horse operations.

[Quesmark]

Guess "LZ" will be looking for other businesses to run their dirty money
through now:


FBI cartel probe implicates Texas trainer

By Hal Lungren
August 17th 2012

Federal authorities have charged 14 people with laundering drug cartel dollars, based in part on findings at New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs. Seven of the 14 have been arrested.

Their trial date is Oct. 22 in an Austin federal court.

FBI investigations produced evidence that millions of Mexico's Los Zetas cartel dollars have been diverted into purchasing, training and racing as many as 400 U.S. quarter horses. The horses reportedly have competed in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and California.

Excerpt from read more at:
http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Horse-racing-notebook-FBI-cartel-probe-3794551.php (http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Horse-racing-notebook-FBI-cartel-probe-3794551.php)

[usedtolovetvg]

That's fairly old news. I like this one.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/on-the-wrong-track-20120806-23q2z.html?skin=text-only

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/racefixing-scandal-spreads-20120814-246zb.html

[Quesmark]

The NY Times ran a lengthy article about this subject, written by Ginger Thompson on June 12,2012,and well worth reading in full:

The race was one of many victories for the Treviño brothers, who managed to establish a prominent horse breeding operation in the United States, Tremor Enterprises, that allowed them to launder millions of dollars in drug money, according to current and former federal law enforcement officials. The operation amounted to a foothold in the United States for one of Mexico’s most dangerous criminal networks, the officials said.

Using Miguel Ángel Treviño’s cash, José Treviño’s legal residency and Mr. Villarreal’s eye for a good horse, Tremor bought a sprawling ranch in Oklahoma and an estimated 300 stallions and mares. The Treviño brothers might have kept their operation quiet, given the criminal connection, but their passion for horses and winning apparently proved too tempting. In the short span of three years, Tremor won three of the industry’s biggest races, with prizes totaling some $2.5 million.

Excerpt from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/us/drug-money-from-mexico-makes-its-way-to-the-racetrack.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/us/drug-money-from-mexico-makes-its-way-to-the-racetrack.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all)

[usedtolovetvg]

In both cases, both here and Down Under, it amazes me how the industry chooses to turn a blind eye, only reacts, and very slowly, when law enforcement moves in.