Customs and Border Protection Officer Arrested for Money Laundering

Phoenix FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven R. Hooper announces the arrest of Customs and Border Protection Officer Lauro Tobias, 59, by the FBI’s Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force. Tobias was arrested on Thursday, March 14, 2013, without incident.

Tobias was arrested pursuant to a federal complaint filed with the United States District Court, District of Arizona. The complaint charges Tobias with one count of money laundering. The complaint alleges that on August 31, 2012, Tobias transported a bag containing a large amount of U.S. currency, which he believed to be the proceeds from a narcotics sale, from Las Vegas, Nevada to Phoenix, Arizona.

The investigation was conducted by the Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force, made up of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Office of Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Internal Affairs, and the Tucson Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Lacey of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona.

An arrest is not evidence that the defendant committed the crime charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.