Chris Washington Toral, 49, a former Homeland Security officer from Spring, Texas, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for laundering money linked to drug cartel narcotics.
Toral, who was responsible for deportations at DHS, pled guilty to money laundering on February 27, 2025. He was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison in Houston. Along with prison time, he will serve two years of supervised release and pay a $20,000 fine.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Toral used his DHS badge and revolver to protect what he believed to be cartel drug money. In 2023, he moved approximately $700,000 in narcotics proceeds under the guise of official duties.
Toral twice transported $200,000 cash bags from Dallas to Houston and later flew $300,000 from New Jersey to Houston, using his DHS status to bypass TSA screening.
Authorities state Toral committed these crimes for financial gain, abusing his position for illicit purposes.
