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

BOSTON – A California woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for her role in a money laundering conspiracy involving proceeds of methamphetamine and marijuana distribution. The defendant laundered over $200,000 of her husband’s drug proceeds.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 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. A marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled.

Christina Lua, 51, of Santa Rosa, Cali., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 12 months and one day in prison followed by one year of supervised release. In April 2024, Lua pleaded guilty to one count of a second superseding indictment charging her with money laundering conspiracy.

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 connection with a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy. In addition to the money laundering conspiracy charged against Lua and four others, the other 10 defendants were also 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 Lua’s  husband Reshat Alkayisi was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to distributors throughout the New England area. Lua 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 third defendant to be sentenced. The remaining eight defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

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 and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.