PIMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - Agents with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office served seven search warrants in Casa Grande and Tucson on Thursday.
According to a media release from Attorney General Mark Brnovich, the warrants were being served in connection with a $2.8 million dollar money laundering, drug trafficking, and fraud of state benefits case.
Since April 2015, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics and Special Investigations Section (NSIS) in conjunction with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office has conducted a joint money laundering investigation.
Deputy Courtney Rodriguez with the Pima County Sheriff's Department says that NSIS served seven warrants. Six warrants were in Pima County and one warrant in the Casa Grande area. Marijuana was found at three locations, and an illgegal firearm was also recovered.
There is a current total of nine associated arrest warrants. Eight other arrests are pending, said Rodriguez.
The five suspects who were served with indictments are Carlos David Nogales, Sr. and Carlos David Nogales Jr., the alleged ringleaders, Jasmine Sandoval, Peter Jackson, and Layza Sandoval. They face a number of felony charges including forgery, money laundering, and transportation of marijuana for sale.
Investigators believe that the suspects shipped marijuana to locations on the East Coast, and then money from those locations was deposited in their accounts.
The Arizona Department of Economic Safety says that nine defendants are suspected of committing food stamp fraud up to $40,000, and $102,000 in AHCCCS fraud.
The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available, said Rodriguez.
