Illinois man convicted of money laundering for Mexican criminal organization
The man was found guilty on three counts against him, and it was also reported that he received $300,000 in cash for his services
A federal jury in Chicago convicted a man of laundering illicit money from an alleged drug trafficking organization based in Mexico, following a week-long trial in the United States District Court in Chicago.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported that David Berger, of The 41-year-old Chicago resident was found guilty on all three charges against him, including two counts of money laundering and one count of illegal structuring of financial transactions. The sentences carry up to 20 years in federal prison.
They transported cocaine from Mexico
U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso set sentencing for May 12, 2026. They stated that the evidence presented at trial revealed that, between 2018 and 2021, the Mexico-based drug trafficking organization transported cocaine from Mexico for sale in several U.S. cities, including Chicago, according to a statement.
“Members of the organization transported millions of dollars in drug proceeds to the U.S. and Mexican borders. One of the ways they transported the money was on chartered private planes, which were booked and paid for on their behalf by intermediaries, including Berger,” they emphasized.
Berger received more than $300,000 in cash from the organization to pay for the bookings and cover his fees. He deposited the winnings in ATMs, seeking a way to evade federal currency reporting requirements.