Wachovia caught in money-laundering probe

Published: April 26, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Order reprints
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 26 (UPI) -- U.S. investigators are looking into the role of Wachovia Corp. (NYSE:WB) in an alleged money laundering scheme involving Mexican and Colombian drug money, officials said.

The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday the Charlotte, N.C., bank is just one of several U.S. banks under investigation.

The newspaper said Wachovia and the other banks severed ties with the Mexican foreign-exchange firms in December and January after inquiries began.

"Wachovia is committed to maintaining a strong anti-money-laundering program," said Wachovia spokeswoman Christy Phillips-Brown

Wachovia held deposits belonging to foreign-exchange houses and provided back-office services to the businesses known as casas de cambio.

Court papers show federal agents seized more than $11 million in 23 Wachovia accounts belonging to Casa de Cambio Puebla, a Mexican foreign exchange chain, alleging the money belonged to a drug cartel.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Croatia leads U.S. 2-0 at Davis Cup tennis (14 min)
MLB: St. Louis 8, Chicago Cubs 3 (25 min)
Report: Bailout funds could help small biz (52 min)
Werth named NL All-Star for Beltran (53 min)
Home sales rise in Baltimore area (56 min)
Lawsuit filed in cemetery desecration
Canadian PM apologizes at G8 for blunder
fark
Patronizing Tijuana hookers while on drugs may be unhealthy, according to Dr. N.S. Sherlock, of...
Defense lawyers request words like "polygamy,""cult" and "compound" not be used in their client's...
TSG Mugshot roundup: Twin billing
Barbie-Con visitors split on major issue: Are you allowed to open her box and play with it?
It's been 10 years since "The Blair Witch Project." Where were you when this crappy, one-joke, overhyped...
While serious people debate health care, CNN does interview with morons from West Virgina who ignored...