Homero Angel Cevallos Velasquez, a Panamanian national, was extradited from Colombia to the United States on November 20, 2025. He faces charges of international money laundering and was ordered detained pending trial during a hearing in federal court in San Diego.
Federal prosecutors argued that Cevallos posed a significant flight risk. Cevallos did not contest the motion and agreed to remain in custody. He is scheduled for a motion hearing and trial setting before United States District Judge Janis L. Sammartino on December 19, 2025. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
The case involves an alleged international money laundering organization (MLO) with several individuals already charged or having pleaded guilty:
– Hector Alejandro Paez Garcia, an attorney based in Mexico City, admitted to helping launder over $52 million.
– Miguel Angel Encinas Gomez of Mexicali, Mexico, pleaded guilty to laundering $35 million.
– Hugo Andres Velasquez Pantza, a Colombian national accused of incorporating cryptocurrency into the MLO’s operations, was arrested in Italy following an undercover FBI operation and extradited to the U.S.; his case is ongoing.
– James Harmon Yarbrough of Apopka, Florida, worked with Cevallos to convert $326,000 into cryptocurrency and pleaded guilty.
– Victoria Johanna Lopez, Jose Jesus Lopez, Jose Mayorga Martinez (all pleaded guilty), and Gerardo Vasquez Jr. allegedly acted as bulk cash couriers; Vasquez Jr.’s case is pending.
– Jhonatan Suarez Florez of Auburndale, Florida used his businesses’ accounts for transactions related to the organization and pleaded guilty.
– Alberto David Benguait Jimenez is identified as another leader but remains at large.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about Benguait Jimenez’s whereabouts to contact their local FBI or DEA office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Benjamin and Robert Miller are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Owen Roth also contributed significantly.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and its Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá coordinated with Colombian authorities for Cevallos’ arrest and extradition. The FBI partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, and Panamanian officials to seize assets linked to the organization and arrest multiple suspects.
Cevallos faces charges under Title 18 of the U.S. Code for international money laundering conspiracy with a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
This investigation falls under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF brings together agencies such as the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Defense, IRS Criminal Investigation among others to combat transnational criminal organizations through interagency collaboration led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
“The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
