Colombian leader of international drug money laundering organization convicted

ATLANTA - Valentina Forero Álvarez has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Forero Álvarez led a sophisticated transnational criminal organization responsible for laundering more than $31 million in illegal narcotics proceeds through the United States financial system.

"Forero Álvarez presided over an international network that exploited our financial system to launder millions of dollars of drug proceeds," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "Narco-terrorists and their associates who believe they can hide their crimes through complex laundering schemes or residency abroad will be found, brought to the United States, prosecuted, and held accountable."

"This case demonstrates the relentless commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to dismantle transnational criminal organizations that threaten the integrity of our financial system and the safety of our communities," said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. "The successful disruption of this sophisticated money laundering network was the result of outstanding collaboration between HSI, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Together, we will continue to pursue those who seek to profit from illegal narcotics and ensure they are brought to justice."

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Valentina Forero Álvarez directed a network of couriers who traveled from Colombia and laundered proceeds of illegal narcotics sales through the United States banking system.

As part of the criminal operation, Forero Álvarez instructed non-citizens-primarily from Colombia-to travel to the United States on tourist visas, conduct multiple pickups of bulk cash in cities across the country, and deposit the money into bank accounts held in the names of shell companies or U.S.-based businesses operating in the unregulated currency exchange market.

The couriers, at the direction of Forero Álvarez and her associates, made counter deposits into bank accounts while in Georgia and at least 14 other states, including Michigan, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Virginia, Massachusetts, Illinois, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.

During the investigation, agents seized more than $4.8 million of suspected drug money. Agents also determined that accounts opened by Forero Álvarez's couriers received more than $31 million in cash deposits, including approximately $2.9 million deposited in the Northern District of Georgia.

Valentina Forero Álvarez, 33, of Armenia, Colombia, pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026. She remains in federal custody and will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg at a later date. Her conviction carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to twice the value of the laundered funds, up to three years of supervised release, and forfeiture of property involved in the offense.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Brown and Nicholas L. Evert are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.