Councilman Walky Cuevas sent to trial for alleged money laundering and drug trafficking

San Pedro de Macorís.– A court in this province ordered the opening of a trial against councilman Walky Cuevas Charles and the company W. Cuevas Autoimport, after considering that there is sufficient evidence for them to answer in a process for alleged crimes of drug trafficking and money laundering.

The decision was adopted by Judge Andrea E. Corcino Cueto, who accepted the indictment presented by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

As part of the process, the court maintained the coercive measures imposed on the councilman, consisting of a travel ban and periodic reporting to the authorities. Likewise, the precautionary measures of seizure, confiscation, and freezing of assets and funds linked to the case were ratified.

The company W. Cuevas Autoimport will also have to face trial, as it is accused of alleged violations of Law 155-17 on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

According to the Public Ministry’s investigation, Cuevas Charles was allegedly part of a criminal structure led by Yunior Santos Restrepo, dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering. The investigation indicates that the organization allegedly moved more than RD$264 million and around one million dollars, resources that were supposedly incorporated into the economic system through various operations.

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The case is related to the network dismantled in September 2023, when authorities seized 93 packages of cocaine, firearms, cash, and several high-end vehicles during various raids.

Through this case file, Yunior Santos Restrepo was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Yohan Altagracia Reyes Ruiz received a five-year jail sentence. The court also ordered the forfeiture of assets obtained illicitly.