The Drug Enforcement Administration says the Chinese-Mexican businessman tied to the world's largest cash seizure, and his Las Vegas girlfriend, were laundering the profits from drug sales at Las Vegas casinos.
Zhenli Ye Gon, known to Las Vegas casinos as Mr. Ye, was arrested by DEA agents Monday night at a suburban Maryland restaurant.
Ye Gon was ordered held without bond for at least the next 10 days on charges that he smuggled drugs and laundered the profits from drug sales at Las Vegas casinos and elsewhere in the United States.
He faces methamphemine smuggling and money laundering related charges in the U.S. and is also wanted in Mexico on charges of producing and smuggling meth and weapons charges.
His girlfriend and co-conspirator, Michelle Wong, was arrested in Las Vegas. She is charged with conspiracy to several felonies related to laundering the drug money through Las Vegas casinos.
Wong went in front of federal judge at George Federal Courthouse earlier Tuesday.
Mr. Ye was staying at the Venetian until authorities raided his Mexico home in March where they found more than 200 million dollars in cash.
Authorities then served search warrants on his room at the Venetian and several other spots in Las Vegas. They confiscated, among other things, a Rolls Royce and a Lamborghini the casino gave him.
Mr. Ye reportedly lost $125 million at the Venetian and at a couple other Las Vegas casinos. Mr. Ye has said he was holding $150 million of the seized cash for corrupt Mexican government officials.
He is also wanted in Mexico on organized crime, drug trafficking and weapons charges. His lawyers said Ye Gon would fight efforts to return him to Mexico.
"This is complete nonsense," said Martin McMahon, a Washington-based lawyer who represents Ye Gon. "He has never had drugs and he didn't have any drugs on him when he was arrested last night."
McMahon said his client would not receive a fair trial in Mexico. "President (Felipe) Calderon has already said he is going to jail," McMahon said. "We will vigorously oppose his
extradition."
Authorities traced Ye Gon to an address in Wheaton, Maryland using cellular tracking tools, and spent the past two weeks trying to locate him, according to a police report on the arrest.
Mexican officials have requested his arrest for extradition. Police discovered $207 million at his Mexico City mansion in what U.S. officials have called the world's biggest seizure of drug
cash.
Ye Gon's next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3.
(Source: KLAS-TV and The Associated Press)
The man known on the Strip as "Mr. Ye" is suspected of moving massive quantities of chemicals from Asia into Mexico, has been captured.
