The Weslaco resident was arrested in Victoria County in early 2012 with US$ 1 million in his car’s trunk. According to prosecutors, Maldonado was running for Hidalgo County constable at the time. More than a year later, in November 2013, federal agents arrested him on conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Prosecutors say that between 2001 and 2013 Maldonado transported drug money from Detroit, Chicago, Birmingham, and elsewhere back to the Rio Grande Valley, according to the Elkhart Truth portal.
He would buy one-way tickets to fly to these destinations, pick up the cash, and rent cars to drive back to the valley. Usually, he received a three percent cut per trip. He bought several properties and assets with the money under false names.
