DETROIT (FOX 2) – A Detroit business owner has been arrested by Homeland Security for alleged involvement in international money laundering connected to major drug cartels in Mexico.
Juan Romo-Padilla, 58, the owner of the Mexican restaurant ‘La Posada’ in Southwest Detroit, was apprehended following a joint investigation by the DEA and IRS. He faces serious charges, including conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, international money laundering, and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, as announced by US Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
The investigation into Romo-Padilla began in 2024, revealing that he was illegally sending cash transfers of drug proceeds to Mexico through his restaurant. Between 2022 and 2026, he conducted over 100,000 wire transfers, totaling $140 million, primarily directed to Mexican states linked to drug cartels.
Special Agent in Charge Dixon emphasized the serious nature of money laundering, stating, “It is the financial engine that allows drug traffickers to turn illicit profits into resources that fuel addiction, violence, and death in cities across America.” He affirmed that efforts would continue to dismantle financial networks supporting such criminal activity.
If convicted, Romo-Padilla could face up to 20 years in prison for each count.
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The information was reported by FOX 2, using details from the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Michigan.
