Illegal Car Nationalization Business 

Seven individuals forfeit more than $13 million in real estate holdings to federal authorities following their convictions for a car nationalization business. For context, car nationalization is the process by which individuals import a U.S. vehicle into Mexico, or vice versa. Similar to the U.S., the Mexican government has specific customs laws and regulations regarding vehicle importation. A car nationalization business assists customers in navigating the process for a fee.

The culprits, Alejandro Cerda, and Juan Carlos Cerda, both of Laredo, Texas, have previous criminal records. Their prior transgressions involve operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and making false statements on tax returns. This time, however, their crime revolves around the car nationalization business and transmitting money.

There are also five other individuals complicit in the car nationalization scheme. Two such participants are Ofelia Jenkins and Adrian Reyna. Both individuals have previous criminal records for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Further, they have paid judgements for these crimes in the amounts of $45,000 and $16,000, respectively.