Stashed cash: Money laundering suspect jailed

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Two Brownsville men are prime suspects in what Frio County deputies believe is a money laundering operation after over $76,000 in US currency was discovered in a vehicle the pair was driving.
Frio County deputies say they stopped a vehicle on IH-35 near Milemarker 99 on Saturday, May 18, after the driver behind the wheel of a 2015 Ford committed a traffic violation.
The driver, later identified as 64-year-old Edmundo Rios Pacheco, allegedly told deputies he had $2,000 in US currency and was acting as a courier to Mexico for the items on the trailer. Officers then discovered that Pacheco had $4,000 in his shirt pockets.
Deputies searched the vehicle and found a backpack Pacheco had attempted to conceal under the seat. The bag contained over $12,000 in cash. A subsequent search revealed $60,000 concealed in the spare tire compartment.
The passenger, identified as 55-year-old Jose Gallegos, allegedly told deputies the pair had been traveling for nearly a week through various states.
“Due to the inconsistent amounts provided and the stories having discrepancies regarding their time frames of employment, the money was seized,” the deputy noted in his report.
Further investigation into the individuals revealed that Gallegos has been listed as a person of interest in a money laundering case in Refugio County, about 150 miles southeast of Frio County.
“All located funds will be submitted to the 81st Judicial District Attorney’s Office for asset forfeiture proceedings,” Frio County Chief Deputy Peter Salinas said. “Any funds awarded to the sheriff’s office can be used for equipment and training for all law enforcement operations. We will continue attempting to disrupt all criminal activities and the proceeds they yield from going to their possible criminal organizations.”
The United States Sentencing Commission reports that 1,001 money laundering offenders were sentenced in the federal system during fiscal 2022.