Life Terms Possible in Money Laundering Case

Four of the five men convicted of laundering $316 million in drug money through the downtown Los Angeles jewelry district could face life sentences, and the ringleader could be fined nearly $8 million, a federal judge said Tuesday.

However, U.S. District Judge William D. Keller delayed sentencing the five men until this afternoon so he could review the federal sentencing guidelines.

The leader of one of the nation’s most elaborate money laundering operations, Raul Vivas, 39, of Buenos Aires, could be sentenced under federal guidelines to a life term plus a maximum fine of $7,850,000. Nazareth Andonian and his brother, Vahe Andonian, could face the same stiff sentence, but Assistant U.S. Atty. Jean Kawahara said the government was seeking a fine of $1.7 million. Although Kawahara recommended a life sentence for Juan Carlos Seresi, she said he did not have sufficient assets to pay a large fine. The fifth defendant, Ruben Saini, faces a term of 27 to 33 years. All five were convicted of conspiring to launder drug money and each was found guilty of at least 25 other counts of money laundering.