SAN ANTONIO -- A man is being held in federal custody after agents raided his Stone Oak area home Wednesday morning.
Antonio Pena Arguelles is charged with conspiracy to launder money in activity allegedly linked to the Gulf and Los Zetas drug cartels in Mexico. Agents say the 56-year-old kept a safe in a master bedroom holding large amounts of cash.
In an indictment, investigators say Arguelles' brother was killed by members of Los Zetas after being accused of stealing millions from the drug cartel. Mike Lemoine, a spokesman for the Department of Treasury, says the investigation began in 2000 and lead to the raid at Arguelles suburban home.
A neighbor says Arguelles had been living in his home in the Champion Ridge subdivision for about five years and didn't talk to people living nearby. Federal agents say he will remain in custody because he is not a U.S. citizen and investigators are concerned he might try to leave the country.
Arguelles has a federal hearing on February 21st. If convicted, he faces 20 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine.
