"The Englishman" Sentenced to more than 7 Years in Prison for Money Laundering and Ordered to Pay $150K to DEA.

Daniel Shaun Zilke, 49, also known as “The Englishman,” has been sentenced to over 7 years in prison by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner. In addition to his prison term, Zilke was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and fined $50,000.

Daniel Shaun Zilke’s money-laundering operation spanned several years, funneling illicit funds from the United States to international drug trafficking organizations. In addition to this sentence, Zilke attempted to embezzle nearly $200,000 from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), an effort that ultimately led to his capture and conviction.

The U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Zilke's criminal activities began in 2015 when he was approached by an undercover DEA agent. Zilke, at the time 43 years old, informed the agent about a European client seeking to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars to Mexico. Zilke proposed using a charity's bank account in Dallas, Texas, as a vehicle for laundering the illicit funds.

Through multiple interactions, Daniel Shaun Zilke and his associates arranged several pickups of large sums of cash from drug traffickers across the country.

Under his direction, the illicit money was funneled into various accounts, including one linked to the Peace Through Water Foundation, a supposed charity. Zilke and his co-conspirators kept a portion of the laundered funds.

Attempted Embezzlement of $150,000 from DEA Undercover Operation

In 2019, Daniel Shaun Zilke agreed to cooperate with the DEA and accepted $200,000 in government funds intended for a third party, 63-year-old Jeffrey Mark Thompson, who was set to launder the money. The plan was for Thompson to transfer the funds through his accounts and return them to DEA-controlled accounts. However, Zilke betrayed the DEA's trust when, just two weeks later, he retrieved $150,000 of the funds without informing the agents.

Despite providing multiple excuses and false statements regarding delays in returning the full amount, Zilke’s actions led to his eventual arrest in May 2023. He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to assist in drug distribution, money laundering, and obstruction of a federal proceeding. Daniel Shaun Zilke was sentenced to 87 months in prison and fined $50,000. He was also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the DEA for the embezzled funds.

Co-Conspirators Convicted in Related Cases

Daniel Shaun Zilke's criminal network involved other individuals, including Gustavo Adolfo Aldana-Martinez, 58, from Pico Rivera, who was convicted of money laundering and conspiracy charges. Aldana-Martinez is currently serving a four-year sentence for his involvement in the operation, which saw the concealment of drug proceeds.

Jeffrey Mark Thompson, 63, who played a key role in the laundering operation, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to drug distribution and money laundering in November 2023. He is currently awaiting sentencing and faces the possibility of a life sentence.

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