A former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent has been charged with money laundering using digital assets. According to an indictment unsealed at a Federal Court in Manhattan, the agent, who agreed to oversee the DEA’s financial operations, was charged with agreeing to launder millions of dollars. The indictment noted that he first worked as a DEA Special Agent in New York before rising to become the Deputy Chief of the Office of Financial Operations. According to the indictment, Campo had retired since 2016 and now runs a private consulting business. Former DEA agent cuffed for money laundering According to the indictment , Campo was accused of laundering more than $750,000 for the cartel. The documents showed that he agreed to launder more than $12 million in total, noting that he was planning to launder the funds by converting them into digital assets. The indictment also stated that he provided payments for about 220 kilograms of cocaine, upon the understanding that the said drugs had been imported into the United States via illegal means. Paul Campo has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, and conspiracy to commit money laundering . The indictment stated that in late 2024, Robert Sensi, who is a co-defendant alongside Campo, started meeting with a confidential source working at the direction of law enforcement, who was posing as a member of CJNG. Sensi had told the source that he had a friend who used to be in charge of the DEA’s financial operations, claiming that he could assist the group by laundering narcotics and providing the confidential source with sensitive DEA information about sources and investigations. After their initial meetings, Campo and Sensi met with the source on several occasions, with both men agreeing to launder funds for the confidential source, among other things. The indictment showed that they agreed to launder the funds by converting cash into cryptocurrency and making investments in real estate using proceeds from the illicit activities. The pair later advised the source about fentanyl production and explored procuring weapons and commercial drones for CJNG, including grenade launchers, M16 rifles, M4 carbines, AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, and rocket-propelled grenades. During their discussions, both men often boasted about Campo’s experience as a federal law enforcement officer. Campo laundered funds and paid for narcotics Regarding the drones, both men told the confidential source that they could attach explosives to them and use the explosives to blow up things. As part of the scheme, the pair agreed to launder the narcotics proceeds, successfully laundering $750k by converting it into digital assets. They also used the laundered funds to pay for cocaine with the understanding that they could get up to $5 million from the deal. Both men were also expected to receive commissions upon the sale of the narcotics. United States Attorney Jay Clayton highlighted that both men used their financial expertise and experience working with law enforcement to assist CJNG, one of the most notorious Mexican drug cartels responsible for violence and drug trafficking in the United States. “The indictment of former Special Agent Paul Campo sends a powerful message: those who betray the public trust—past or present—will be held to account to the fullest extent of the law,” said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole. Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.
