“The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “This OCDETF investigation is an excellent example of our ability to reach outside Nevada to cooperatively dismantle a lucrative multi-state drug trafficking operation.”
Eight persons were arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada last Thursday, October 28, 2010, and 19 individuals were arrested in Alaska and Las Vegas yesterday and on Wednesday. Twenty-five of the defendants are charged with money laundering conspiracy, and 14 of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone from July 2009 to October 2010. The defendants are charged in two separate criminal complaints filed in the District of Nevada. The criminal complaints were unsealed today by a federal magistrate judge in Las Vegas.
The complaints allege that a Las Vegas-based drug trafficking organization led by Nicholas Ghafouria, of Las Vegas, is responsible for acquiring thousands of tablets of oxycodone in Las Vegas and distributing it in various cities in Alaska, and laundering the profits through Las Vegas bank accounts.
The complaints state that beginning in approximately June 2009, Ghafouria and another Las Vegas resident, Ki Yong Parker, used prescriptions in their names to acquire approximately 6,200 tablets of Oxycodone, which were distributed in Alaska. Ghafouria also allegedly obtained oxycodone through Las Vegas resident Demetha Jackson. The complaints allege that the other defendants worked for Ghafouria as money launderers and/or drug traffickers in Las Vegas and Soldotna, Kenai, Wasilla, Anchor Point, and Anchorage, Alaska. The Alaska defendants allegedly sold the oxycodone pills in Alaska, and deposited the drug proceeds in bank accounts in the names of Ghafouria and several co-conspirators. The drug proceeds were then withdrawn by co-conspirators in Las Vegas. he complaint alleges that from July 24, 2009, through October 2, 2010, over $1.2 million in cash proceeds from the distribution of oxycodone was deposited into nine Las Vegas-based bank accounts controlled by Ghafouria and his co-conspirators.
It is alleged that Ghafouria attempted to legitimize the money earned from the drug distribution business by operating a custom motorcycle and paint shop named Alley Rat Custom Cycles, located at 3965 E. Patrick Lane, in Las Vegas. The complaint states that oxycodone pills are delivered to Ghafouria at Alley Rat, and that Ghafouria uses persons (mules) to transport the pills from the business to Alaska via commercial airlines.
