After a comprehensive federal trial in Brooklyn, Alain Bibliowicz Mitrani has been convicted on charges related to a substantial $300 million money laundering operation with ties to transnational criminal organizations. The jury found Mitrani guilty of money laundering conspiracy, bank fraud conspiracy, as well as operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, among other counts. This decision could lead to a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison for the defendant.
The case against Mitrani, who is a dual citizen of France and Colombia and resides in Miami, Florida, was presented over a two-week trial period. U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon presided over the proceedings. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, Mitrani's operation managed to launder money, including for individuals linked to the infamous Sinaloa Cartel.
During the trial evidence showed that from 2020 to 2024, Mitrani used his company, Treebu — disguised as a technology firm — as a front for laundering illicit proceeds from drug cartels operating in Colombia and Mexico. The prosecution detailed how Mitrani and his co-conspirators utilized cryptocurrency and a series of bank accounts to convert these dirty funds into cash, continuing the cycle of crime by funneling money back to drug traffickers.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. emphasized the take-down's significance, stating, "With today's verdict, the defendant’s prolific money laundering of drug proceeds is all washed up." He added that this operation, once hidden in the shadows, has been exposed and halted. Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York, Ricky J. Patel, added perspective on the broader implications, "The defendant's $300 million money laundering empire fueled untold violence and chaos on behalf of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations." Furthermore, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the leading IRS-CI official in New York, stressed that no amount of dirty money can escape their investigative reach. Mitrani's opulent spending included lavish purchases like jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels, and over $16,000 on luxury hotel stays, Chavis noted, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The conviction ties into the broader "Operation Take Back America" initiative, which strives to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels, and shield communities from violent crime. This operation consolidates efforts from the Department of Justice's various task forces in a large-scale approach to eradicating organized crime. Leading the government's case are Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir, Lorena Michelen, and David Berman, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
