Colombian National Pleads Guilty in Drug Proceeds Money Laundering Scheme
Andrelio Castaño Rojas admitted to laundering drug trafficking proceeds using U.S. bank accounts and consumer electronics exports.
3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 18, 2026, 2:40 a.m. ET
This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.
We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 18, 2026, 2:39 a.m. ET — checked 7h ago.
Earlier reports
Aug 18, 2026, 2:52 a.m. ET
Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy
On August 17, 2026, Andrelio Castaño Rojas, 55, of Colombia, pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to money laundering conspiracy, according to justice.gov. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, from January 2018 through March 2025, Castaño Rojas conspired to launder drug trafficking proceeds using a currency exchange scheme. He opened U.S. bank accounts for two of his U.S. companies, arranged for the accounts to receive drug proceeds through bank wires and bulk cash deposits, and used the funds to purchase consumer electronics that were exported to Colombia. The case was investigated by the DEA.
Aug 18, 2026, 2:40 a.m. ETFirst report
Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy
On August 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Andrelio Castaño Rojas, 55, of Colombia, pleaded guilty to a money laundering conspiracy in the Eastern District of Virginia. The case is open and developing.
According to court documents, from January 2018 through March 2025, Castaño Rojas conspired to launder drug trafficking proceeds using a currency exchange scheme. He opened U.S. bank accounts for two of his U.S. companies, arranged for those business accounts to receive drug proceeds through bank wires and bulk cash deposits, and used the funds to purchase consumer electronics that he exported to Colombia.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the matter. Castaño Rojas faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
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- Version 118 Aug 2026, 06:52current
First published.
- Version 118 Aug 2026, 06:40current
First published.
- Version 118 Aug 2026, 06:55current
First published.
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