Back in June, Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez was arrested in Miami Lakes on money laundering and marijuana trafficking charges. Investigators recorded Hernandez-Gonzalez on a phone call via a wiretap with marijuana growers from Miami who were arrested in Tennessee. He allegedly gave the individuals marijuana growing advice during the phone call. The conversation led investigators to his home where they found $22 million hidden in Home Depot buckets.
Now, Hernandez-Gonzalez is facing both state and federal charges. Although he his currently being detained in a local jail, a U.S. district court judge requested that he be transferred to a federal detention center. This request prompted his criminal defense attorney to file a motion to request that the Miami-Dade jail refuse the transportation request due to concerns over the violation of Hernandez-Gonzalez’s constitutional rights. However, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Nushin Sayfie said that she doesn’t have the jurisdiction to override a federal request. His attorneys have commented that they will file an emergency appeal to the Third District Court of Appeal.
In addition to the fight over the transportation to a federal facility, the lawyers for Hernandez-Gonzalez argue that the money was obtained legally. They claim that the money was earned from selling equipment through his business, Blossom Experience. Investigators believe that even though the business was legal, he was catering to traffickers who grew marijuana. According to the Miami Herald, the defense team has said that because he sells to legal growers in other states, no banks would take his cash, which is why he resorted to hiding the money in Home Depot buckets in his home. Hernandez-Gonzalez’s trial is slated to begin next month.
Being charged of a crime can be a complicated situation for any individual, but when federal charges are also added, the case can take on a whole different level. It is important that you seek the counsel of a criminal law attorney as soon as possible and be sure that they have experience in working cases at both the local and federal level.
Reference:
Ovalle, D. (2016, November 21). Miami man who hid $22.6 million cash in Home Depot buckets faces federal charges. Retrieved November 22, 2016, from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article116210493.html