HOUSTON NEWS
May 10, 2013
Contact: Public Information Officer
713-693-3000
Laredo Bail bonds Manager Sent to Prison for Money Laundering
MAY 10 (LAREDO, Texas)  -Elizabeth Nevarez, 44, of Laredo, has been ordered to prison for nearly five years following her conviction of one count ofmoney laundering,Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier Pea and United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.Nevarez entered into a written plea agreement on Monday, Nov. 5, 2012.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaa, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Nevarez a sentence of 57 months in prison for her role in laundering drug proceeds. At a lengthy sentencing hearing today, arguments from the defense and prosecution were presented. After careful consideration of the presentence report and arguments of counsel, Judge Saldaa noted that Nevarez "benefited to a great extent from these drug proceeds." Judge Saldaa ordered the forfeiture ofNevarez's interest in a residence located on the 6300 block of Springtime Drive in San Antonioand ordered a money judgment in the amount of $98,630.45. Nevarez was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and be required to serve a term of three years of supervised release following completion of the prison term.
In the guilty plea, Nevarez admittedto assisting the Ibarra Drug Trafficking Organization in May of2010 after the arrest of Juan Ramon Ibarra Sr. and two otherco-conspiratorsfor cocaine distribution. The Ibarra family approached Nevarez in her capacity as regionalmanagerat AA Best Bail Bondsto obtain bond for Ibarra Sr.During these discussions,Nevarez suggested the Ibarras transferthree valuableLaredo properties into hernamein orderto avoid seizure by the federal government. Nevarez forged the dates on the warranty deeds of thethreeproperties to make it appear as though they were transferred prior to Ibarra Sr.'s arrest.
Shortly after this transfer, Nevarez sold the properties for substantially less than their market value. She then transferred the proceeds into her personal bank accountsandpurchased a house in San Antonio.Specifically, Nevarez admitted to these activities as theyrelated to a residence located on the 400 block of Blue Lake Drive,a propertylocated in the upscaleLakeside community of Laredo. The residencewas constructed by Ibarra Sr. with drug proceeds in 2005.
Nevarez was allowed to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.
The case is the result of a two-year investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance ofOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force - Financial Investigation andHomeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys James Hepburn,Elizabeth Rabe,and Mary Ellen Smythare prosecuting the case.