Case 7:18-cr-01830 Document 1 Filed on 10/19/18 in TXSD Page 1 of 2

 

 

 

 

 

Fiesta States 1111111111 @1111
A0 91 (Rev. 11/11) criminal Complaint - ?5.11; ?Sat 113M338
533
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8st 1 9 2111.1
for the 1
Southern District of Texas 1 @135 E3 ?fm? 
United States of America 
V. I CaseNo M?l%?9lqo 
Cesar Edgardo CONTRERAS-CRUZ 1 - 
DOB: 1997, Citizenship: Mexico 


Defendant?s)
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
On or about the date(s) of October 18. 2018 in the county of I Hidalgo in the
Southern District of Texas the defendant(s) violated:
Code Section 1 I Offense Description 1
31 USC 5332 Knowingly and intentionally concealed over $10,000.00, that is approximately

$25,000.00 in' United States Currency, on the person of such individual orin
any conveyance, in any article of luggage, merchandise or container with the
intent to evade a currency reporting requirement, and attempt to transport or
transfer said currency from a place within the United Mexican States to a
place inside the United States. . 

This criminal complaint is baSed on these facts:

See Attachment 

if Continued onthe attached sheet.

?We; . 
0 7 Lori L. ?PendergraSS. HSI SP1

Printed name and title

 

Sworn to before me and signed in my presence.

Date: 10/19/2018 I 1 1 A
I Judge ?5 signature
City and state: McAllen, Texas .S. agistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker

Printed name and title

 

Case 7:18-cr-01830 Document 1 Filed on 10/19/18 in TXSD Page 2 of 2

Attachment 

'On October 18,2018, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), were conducting operations at the
Pharr Port of Entry (POE) when they encountered a Ford F150 bearing Mexico plates

ZXZ03 9K attempting to enter the United States. The vehicle was driven by Cesar Edgardo

CONTRERAS- CRUZ. During the inspection, CBP Of?cers received a negative declaration
from CRUZ for ?rearms, ammunition or currency Over $10, 000. 00. .
declared $100 United States Dollars (USD). was
referred?to secondary for an intensive examination. During the secondary inspection, CBP
Of?cers conducted a K9 search of the vehicle and at this time CRUZ freely
stated there was money concealed in the tool box located in the bed of the pickup truck. CBP
Of?cers discovered bundles of currency concealed underneath a mat inside the tool box. The
total amount of S. Currency concealed in the tool box was approximately $25, 000 00.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Special Agents (SA) and HSI Task Force Of?cers
(TFOS) responded to the Pharr, POE to interview CONTRERAS- CRUZ. CRUZ
was read his Miranda Rights, in Spanish, and subsequently waived his rights, both orally and in
writing. . .

freely stated that he was aware that the vehicle he was operating had
currency concealed inside the t001 box located in the bed of the pickup truck. 
CRUZ stated post Miranda that he knew he had more than $10,000 in the vehicle and that he
has made previous money trips in the past. further stated that he knew
the money originated from illicit activities and is aware of the currency reporting requirements.
CRUZ speci?cally concealed the currency to avoid the currency reporting
requirements.