Isspol: US court asks to retain assets of Chérrez and Luzuriaga valued at $ 176 million

The Southern District Court of Florida (United States) reformulated charges against Jorge Chérrez Miño and Jorge John Luzuriaga, for an alleged participation in a bribery and money laundering scheme that involves the pension fund of the Social Security Institute of the Police (Isspol).

The former directors of Isspol signed the transactions.

Luzuriaga, who was Isspol’s Risk Director, and Chérrez, Isspol’s investment advisor and representative of IBcorp and HYBF, were charged with “conspiring to commit money laundering.” However, in this new complaint that establishes charges already imposed in March of this year, the confiscation of certain assets of both defendants is included. 

After being found guilty of a violation of Title 15, United States Code, both “will lose any real property or person l, involved in such crime, or any property traceable to said property,” says the reformulation of the charge made last 14 October. 

The property subject to forfeiture as a result of the alleged crimes includes a sum of approximately $ 176 million, in US currency, which represents the amount of funds involved. 

Luzuriaga was arrested in the United States on February 26. While Chérrez, who is believed to be in Mexico, weighs an arrest warrant. The Justice Department document indicates that, between 2014 and 2020, Chérrez would have paid more than $ 2.6 million in bribes to Isspol officials to obtain the investment business of the police insurance. These would include at least 1.3 million dollars that would have been directed to Luzuriaga “to obtain and retain investment business from Isspol”, for an amount that would be around $ 700 million. 

According to the complaint, Chérrez would have received payments from Isspol’s investment business in an account in the US and would have used companies and accounts based in Florida to pay bribes.