California woman pleads guilty to money laundering after 160+ pounds of meth seized in investigation involving Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine

BOSTON – According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, a California woman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to her role in a money laundering conspiracy involving proceeds of methamphetamine and marijuana distribution. Defendant assisted husband in laundering drug proceeds.

In total, over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns, and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized during the investigation. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled. Two co-defendants Reshat Alkayisi and Andre Watson recently pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024, and July 16, 2024, respectively.

Christina Lua, 50, of Santa Rosa, Cali., pleaded guilty to one count of a second superseding indictment charging her with money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for July 12, 2024.

Lua was originally charged in a superseding indictment, along with four others, in September 2021 with money laundering conspiracy. The indictment charged a total of 11 defendants. In addition to the money laundering conspiracy, other defendants were charged with controlled substance and firearm offenses.

In approximately October 2020, investigators received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Boston area. In late 2020, investigators identified Alkayisi as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to customers throughout the New England area. Lua was identified as Alkayisi’s wife, who assisted Alkayisi in laundering his drug proceeds, including by purchasing vehicles with cash drug proceeds, and by depositing cash drug proceeds in amounts less than $10,000 so as to conceal the nature of the funds and to avoid reporting requirements.   

Lua is the ninth defendant to plead guilty. The two remaining defendants are scheduled to plead guilty.

The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of the great of $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered proceeds, and a mandatory special assessment of $100. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Shawn Jenkins, Interim Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter, Katherine Ferguson, and James Arnold of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.