By: Richard L. Smith
A New Jersey-based couple originally from Colombia has admitted to operating illegal, unlicensed money transmitting businesses that moved more than $62 million from the United States to Colombia, federal authorities announced.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello said 23-year-old Nicholas Ortega Munoz, a Colombian national formerly of Hackensack, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to conspiring to operate, and operating, an unlicensed money transmitting business.
His co-defendant, Isabella Valderrama Ospina, also 23 and a Hackensack resident, pleaded guilty to operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business.
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Ortega Munoz, Valderrama Ospina, and others used two sham companies — BLK Graphics Group and Technology SD — to secretly funnel money from the United States to Colombia.
Authorities said the businesses were never properly registered as money transmitting entities as required by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
Prosecutors said the companies functioned as financial pipelines, moving tens of millions of dollars while allegedly attempting to avoid law enforcement detection.
The operation used multiple rotating bank accounts across various financial institutions to move funds generated from online platforms, including adult-content websites.
In one example outlined in court, online consumers purchased digital “tokens” to compensate adult performers.
Those funds were then withdrawn from the websites and deposited into BLK and Technology SD bank accounts.
From there, authorities said the defendants directed rapid transfers to shell companies in Colombia.
Between April 2021 and June 2025, investigators determined that more than $62 million was transferred to accounts in Colombia through the scheme.
Each charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, along with significant financial penalties.
The maximum fine could reach $250,000, twice the gross financial gain derived from the offense, or twice the financial loss sustained by victims — whichever amount is greatest.
Sentencing for Ortega Munoz is scheduled for June 23, 2026. Valderrama Ospina is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2026.
The investigation remains part of ongoing federal efforts to combat unlicensed financial operations and cross-border money laundering activity.