A McAllen gold and jewelry shop owner is facing federal money laundering charges after prosecutors say he accepted more than $750,000 on behalf of someone involved in illegal gambling operations between 2021 and 2024. Patrick Curry, 46, appeared in federal court Tuesday morning, where a magistrate judge set his bond at $200,000 with no cash deposit required.
According to a federal criminal complaint detailed by ValleyCentral.com, Curry accepted the payments for a person identified in court records only as Individual A, who prosecutors say was engaged in prohibited gambling ventures. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto “Bobby” Lopez Jr. told the court that agents interviewed Individual A in 2026 as part of the investigation. Homeland Security Investigations ultimately charged Curry with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Curry and his father, Wendell, had managed McAllen Gold & Silver together, a North 10th Street business that buys gold, Rolex watches and other valuables, the station reports. When Wendell died in 2021, Curry took over the shop and also served as co-executor of his father's estate — a role prosecutors say later became entangled in the alleged scheme.
How the Alleged Scheme Worked
Court statements described a layered arrangement built around sports betting. Individual A allegedly had a client, referred to as the Bettor, who received credentials to a sports betting website. When the Bettor won, Individual A said he would pay him in cash and handle the taxes himself, according to the complaint. When the Bettor lost, however, an intermediary allegedly picked up checks and brought them to Curry, who then passed the payments on to Individual A.
The criminal complaint alleges that the Intermediary and Curry kept a percentage of the payments for themselves. In total, checks laundered through Curry and the business for Individual A topped $750,000, according to Lopez. The complaint also states that McAllen Gold & Silver created invoices for precious metals and jewelry after Curry received the money — paperwork that did not match his own tax returns, per the same account.
Investigators said Homeland Security Investigations reviewed text messages between Individual A and the Intermediary, in which the two allegedly discussed leaving payments with Curry and placing sports bets, and exchanged pictures of ledgers tracking amounts owed. In one message cited in the complaint, Individual A reportedly wrote, “I'm making a consulting and investment LLC rn so if he looses he can pay my LLC every time.”
Game-Room Checks and a House Sale
The complaint also alleges that Individual A provided two $50,000 cashier's checks described as payment for game-room permits in Donna. The timing is notable: Donna approved regulations for game rooms in 2023, but the city never actually issued any permits, according to ValleyCentral's reporting.
Separately, prosecutors allege Curry sold his father's house to Individual A, who told investigators he paid roughly $500,000 for the property using gambling proceeds delivered by the Intermediary. Lopez told the court that funds were laundered through the estate, and the station's report notes Curry apparently failed to inform the estate's other co-executor about the sale. U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis questioned whether funds from a gambler had been laundered through both the business and the residence.
Lopez did not identify Individual A, the Intermediary or the Bettor in court, and case documents reviewed by the outlet likewise provided no details about who those individuals are.
Release Conditions and Possible Penalty
As a condition of his release, Curry agreed to surrender his position as co-executor of his father's estate, agreed not to spend any inheritance he received, and must send Homeland Security Investigations a weekly report on all McAllen Gold & Silver transactions. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. The conspiracy charge falls under the federal money laundering statute, which addresses knowingly conducting financial transactions involving property that represents the proceeds of unlawful activity, according to the U.S. Code.
Curry's attorney, Rolando D. Cantu, said his client is presumed innocent and that it would be premature to comment on the specifics of the case. Cantu described Curry as a lifelong Valley resident who has run a licensed McAllen business for years and said he is still reviewing the materials in the case.
