Tulsa Man Sentenced for Laundering Money in Large Scale Methamphetamine Operation

A Tulsa man was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court for his involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering operations while he worked at Casa Herrera, a local money remitter business, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Domingo Aguirre, 62, of Tulsa, to 44 months in federal prison for money laundering conspiracy.

“Corrupt money remitter businesses can play significant roles in facilitating criminal enterprises - fraud schemes, human trafficking, terrorism, and, as in this case, the trafficking of large quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico to Oklahoma,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Unscrupulous individuals and drug trafficking organizations that exploit addiction for profit will be prosecuted by my office. Mr. Aguirre will now spend time in federal prison as punishment for his role in this drug trafficking enterprise. I hope this sentence sends a message of deterrence to anyone who might think about becoming involved in the drug trade.”

Aguirre was indicted in August 2018, along with 21 other defendants, and pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 15, 2019. In his plea agreement, Aguirre stated that he received money and sent it back to Mexico to individuals who supplied methamphetamine for distribution in Tulsa and the surrounding areas. To facilitate the process, he used Casa Herrera to generate wire transfers using nominee names. A “nominee name” is used to hide the actual recipient of the money and disguise the true nature of the transactions. Aguirre explained that he along with Alfredo Herrera and Javier Passement maintained communication with the source of supply, counting money and generating wire transfers to send drug proceeds from Tulsa to Mexico. As a result of the criminal prosecutions associated with this case, Casa Herrera is no longer in business.

Aguirre will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick prosecuted the case. AUSA McCormick serves as the lead attorney for the United States Attorney’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.