BOSTON, MA – A development in a large-scale drug trafficking investigation as a California woman admits to laundering drug money.
Christina Lua, 50, from Santa Rosa, California, entered a guilty plea for her involvement in a money laundering conspiracy connected to methamphetamine and marijuana distribution. Her plea was accepted yesterday in federal court in Boston, with U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton setting her sentencing for July 12, 2024.
Lua’s charges stem from her role in assisting her husband, a key figure in a drug trafficking operation that led to the seizure of over 160 pounds of methamphetamine, firearms, including an AK-47 and handguns, and a large quantity of ammunition. Additionally, authorities dismantled an illegal marijuana cultivation site. Lua’s involvement included purchasing vehicles with cash derived from drug sales and making bank deposits under $10,000 to evade financial reporting requirements.
This case highlights a broader operation involving 11 defendants charged with various offenses related to drug trafficking and money laundering. Lua is the ninth defendant to plead guilty, with two more expected to follow suit.
The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, along with significant fines and supervised release, underscoring the serious consequences of engaging in such criminal activities.