eastvalleytribune.com
PHOENIX, Arizona -- One man claimed on a bank account application that he is a street vendor who sells corn. One woman claimed to be a housekeeper and another claimed to be a student.
Those are a few of the hundreds of Arizona bank customers who hold accounts that flow with tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-state deposits.
Authorities allege they are funneling money for drug and human smuggling operations, and the state is now stepping up efforts to seize their bank accounts, according to court records.
Investigators allege in search warrant affidavits filed in Maricopa County Superior Court that “coyotes,” or human smugglers, have switched from laundering their funds through money transmitters such as Western Union in favor of traditional banks.
Posted by tyne at February 24, 2007