Georgia Woman Guilty of Money Laundering Conspiracy and Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - Today, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evansannounced that MICHELLE ALVARADO ("ALVARADO"), age 27, a resident of Georgia, pled guilty on November 27, 2024, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to two counts of a superseding indictment. Count Two charged ALVARADO with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(2)(A) and 1956(h). Count Three charged ALVARADO with interstate travel in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1952(a)(3)(A) and (2).

According to court documents, ALVARADO, and other co-conspirators, traveled between New Orleans, and other states, in order to transport U.S. Currency and narcotics, on behalf of a Drug Trafficking Organization, from Louisiana to Mexico.

As to Count Two, ALVARADO faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000.00, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. As to Count Three, ALVARADO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration - New Orleans Field Division Office, and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, the St. John's Parish Sheriff's Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.