Pico Rivera Nightclub Owner Charged With Laundering Money For Mexican Drug Traffickers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The owner of a Southern California nightclub has been charged with laundering money for Mexican drug traffickers.

Edgar De Dios Francisco of Hacienda Heights was named Friday in a federal grand jury indictment charging him with eight counts of conspiracy and money laundering. He could face up to 20 years in prison on each count if convicted.

Authorities contend that the owner of the El Rodeo nightclub in Pico Rivera laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars from a methamphetamine trafficker and others.

He was arrested after a federal sting operation and is free on bail.

A call left for his attorney, David Elden, was not immediately returned after hours on Friday.

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