Andres Rached Farah, 55, a Lebanese citizen living in Colombia, was sentenced today to 52 months in prison for his involvement in a money laundering conspiracy and conducting substantive money laundering transactions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced the sentence.
Farah was charged in a 50-count indictment alongside 19 other individuals in March 2022. After his arrest in Colombia in April 2022, he was extradited to the United States in September 2023.
Law enforcement had been investigating the money laundering organization based in Barranquilla, Colombia, since 2016. Using the Black-Market Peso Exchange, the organization laundered drug trafficking proceeds by layering transactions through business accounts and U.S.-based financial institutions.
Farah played a key role in the operation, directly laundering at least $591,000 in drug proceeds. His involvement in coordinating the transfer of illicit funds contributed to the organization’s illegal activities.
Farah is the ninth individual sentenced in connection with this conspiracy. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
