Man who transported $9 million in illicit cash proceeds for Mexico-based drug trafficking organization sentenced to six years in federal prison

Date: May 27, 2026

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Chicago, IL - A man who transported $9 million in illicit cash proceeds for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization has been sentenced to six years in federal prison.

Ricardo Tello transported bulk cash proceeds for Mexico-based drug traffickers who had distributed cocaine to numerous cities in the United States. Tello picked up at least approximately $9 million from various locations and delivered the money via plane or car to others in the Chicago area. He received about $3,500 per pickup. On one occasion in November 2019, Tello delivered nearly $300,000 to an undercover law enforcement officer in Hillside, Ill.

Additionally, Tello used his logistics company to support the Mexico-based drug traffickers by exporting nearly 50 loads of plastic sheeting that had been used to smuggle at least 450 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.

The drug trafficking organization was allegedly led by Oswaldo Espinosa of Mexico. Espinosa's organization allegedly used warehouses, garages, and stash houses in Chicago to receive and store the cocaine and cash. Tello, Espinosa, and sixteen others were charged in federal court as part of this investigation. Ten of the co-defendants have pleaded guilty and admitted their roles in the trafficking operation. Espinosa is believed to be in Mexico, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Tello of Mission, Texas, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to drug distribution and money laundering charges. On May 15, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso imposed the six-year prison term and ordered Tello to forfeit $297,699.50 in cash and a Cessna 182P aircraft to the U.S. government.

Tello's sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Adam Jobes, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Michael J. Pfeiffer, Director of the Chicago Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Rosenbloom and Hanna Helwig.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 18 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.