Federal Agent Cleans Up Stealing Cash Found in Laundry Detergent Boxes

Tyrone Cedric Duren, a former Homeland Security agent specializing in the investigation of bulk cash smuggling, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for money laundering, making false statements and tax evasion.

 

While working as a federal agent Duren stole money from people smuggling drug proceeds to Mexico and deposited the cash into his personal and business bank accounts. In several instances Duren placed GPS trackers on vehicles used to transport proceeds from drug sales and then took a portion of the drug money after it was seized. He spent the stolen money on real estate and international travel.

 

One example used in court was an incident in 2014 when Duren was tracking a car he suspected was loaded with cash. The car was stopped at a border patrol checkpoint where they found the cash concealed in laundry detergent boxes. Duren took custody of the seized cash but before putting it into evidence he took more than $100,000 for himself.

 

Duren failed to file taxes for several years, and when he did, he did not claim any of the stolen cash as income. In addition to the jail term the court ordered the forfeiture of Duren’s primary residence, a judgment of $275,000 and restitution to the IRS.