US Treasury Sanctions Los Chapitos Money Launderer Who Once Wrecked a Lambo in CDMX
“Socalj” for Borderland Beat
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Five men accused of laundering money on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel were charged in a pair of grand jury indictments unsealed Monday in San Diego federal court.
The indictments were originally returned in 2022 against the defendants, all of whom remain at large and face drug trafficking and money laundering offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Four of the five defendants were also sanctioned for their alleged roles in supporting the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug trafficking activities, particularly Los Chapitos faction.
One of the men, Salvador Diaz Rodriguez, was described by OFAC as a Mexicali-based enforcer who collected “taxes” on behalf of “a local criminal organization” and was “known to kill those who do not pay the required amount.”
Diaz and co-defendant Israel Daniel Paez Vargas allegedly laundered money for the cartel, while Vargas additionally recruited people to work for co-defendant Alberto David Benguiat Jimenez, OFAC says.
To date, these money laundering investigations have resulted in charges against 51 defendants and the seizure of more than $4.1 million dollars and approximately 1,304 kilograms of methamphetamine, 34 kilograms of heroin, 11 kilograms of cocaine, and 14 kilograms of fentanyl.
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Benguiat operates a network of front companies located in Mexico City (CDMX) and the State of Mexico (Edomex), through which he conceals the origin of the illicit funds he moves from the United States.
- Unter Empresarial Group
- Vindende Group
- Zipfel Group of Mexico
- Productions Pipo
- United People Hoas
- Scatman & Hatman Corp
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Wrecked Green Lamborghini
On December 4, 2020. Alberto David Benguiat Jiménez’s fluorescent green Lamborghini was traveling through the residential streets of the Polanco neighborhood, Miguel Hidalgo borough, at over 100 mph when he plowed into a parked white car.
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Journalist Carlos Jiménez, who unraveled the story, revealed a month later that Julio César Licea López was merely a front man for Alberto David Benguiat Jiménez, who was identified as the sole owner of the car.
Source: https://www.borderlandbeat.com/2025/04/us-treasury-sanctions-los-chapitos.html
