A Miami resident has been indicted for allegedly leading a money laundering operation that funneled over $300 million for drug traffickers and transnational criminal organizations, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn revealed today. Alain Bibliowicz Mitrani, who boasts dual citizenship in France and Colombia, is facing charges of money laundering conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
The charges surfaced following the unsealing of an indictment at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Mitrani, who presented himself as a legitimate tech entrepreneur, was in fact accused of laundering massive amounts of cash, evading federal laws, and facilitating financial networks for international drug cartels including the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. The U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York, alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, spearheaded the announcement of the charges.
According to a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, "As alleged, the defendant used a seemingly legitimate technology company as a front for engaging in a multi-million dollar scheme that deliberately flouted federal laws to launder over $300 million, including for cartels and transnational criminal organizations engaged in drug trafficking." Mitrani's initial court appearance is slated for the Southern District of Florida, with an arraignment to follow in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
The indictment details how, from 2020 to 2024, Mitrani used shell companies to obscure the illicit source of funds and deceive U.S. financial institutions, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. In a statement obtained by Homeland Security Investigations, Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, said, "Alain Bibliowicz Mitrani’s alleged money laundering scheme crumbled today, as did any façade of legitimacy behind his purported technology business." He further stated that the arrest signifies a blow to the operation accused of enabling the spread of narcotics across American communities. Notably, the defendant also appears to have channeled profits from the illicit operations into a luxurious lifestyle, spending on high-end real estate, designer jewelry, and opulent travels.
If ultimately found guilty of the conspiracy charges, Mitrani faces a maximum sentence ranging from five to twenty years' imprisonment on each count. While the indictment carries severe allegations, it must be emphasized that the defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proved guilty. This case stands as a part of a broader mission by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces to dismantle and disrupt high-level criminal syndicates threatening U.S. security.
The prosecution of Mitrani's case is being led by the Office's International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section, with Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir and Philip Pilmar at the helm.
