Minneapolis Man Used His Day Job To Move Cartel Cash To Mexico, Feds Say

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minneapolis man employed by a Minnesota-based money transmitting business has been indicted on federal charges accusing him of laundering at least $750,000 in drug proceeds on behalf of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, one of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug cartels, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota.

Christopher A. Bravo Marin, 46, a Mexican national also known as Bravo, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 20 and arrested by Homeland Security Investigations special agents on Aug. 24.

He made his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Minneapolis on Aug. 25.

Prosecutors allege that from at least February 2023 to at least February 2026, Bravo used his position and knowledge of his employer's compliance procedures to conspire with members of a CJNG drug distribution cell operating in Minnesota, laundering drug proceeds and funneling them to cartel leaders in Mexico.

Cartel members paid Bravo roughly $40 to $50 for each transfer he processed, according to the indictment.

To avoid triggering identification requirements, Bravo allegedly broke up the money into multiple transfers that were each kept just under $1,000, the threshold at which his employer required a customer's ID.

He is accused of inventing Hispanic-sounding sender names and routing the funds to straw beneficiaries in Mexico whose names were supplied by cartel members.

After each transfer, prosecutors say Bravo forged the sender's signature on the payment confirmation receipt to make it look legitimate, then texted photos of the receipts to his co-conspirators so the money could be picked up in Mexico.

Bravo faces one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal judge will determine any sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Trial Attorney Javier Urbina of the Justice Department's Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca E. Kline for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case. HSI St. Paul and the Dakota County Drug Task Force investigated.