A Tucson attorney arrested four years ago, along with reputed members of a large drug-trafficking ring, pleaded guilty Monday to solicitation of money laundering.
Hector Montoya, 52, will be placed on 18 months probation and have to report his legal difficulties to the State Bar of Arizona, said Deputy Pima County Attorney Richard Wintory.
Montoya was one of 35 people indicted in Pima County Superior Court in August 2004 on money laundering and conspiracy counts.
According to the indictment, the group brought in large quantities of marijuana from Mexico and arranged for it to be shipped all across the country, accepting payments through Western Union.
The indictment also alleged the group used violence to collect debts and bought or leased houses and cars under fictitious names to facilitate the business.
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In addition, the indictment said conspirators were able to use legal advice from Montoya to shield their illegal activity from law enforcement.
The organization was broken up after the Counter Narcotics Alliance obtained wiretaps on three telephone lines belonging to Maria Isabel Dominguez, an alleged drug distributor.
On Monday, Montoya admitted he became aware Dominguez was involved in drug-related activities, he accepted clients referred by her, and he advised Dominguez to be "careful and cautious" upon learning she was being targeted by law-enforcement agencies.
Montoya also acknowledged that he advised Dominguez to have people at a home she controlled engage in legitimate activity to mislead investigators, knowing a law-enforcement camera was monitoring the house.
In addition, Montoya admitted he accepted a $20,000 fee to represent a client referred to him by Dominguez, despite knowing he was helping Dominguez launder drug money.
Dominguez and a number of other defendants are scheduled to go to trial May 6 before Judge Howard Hantman. The trial is anticipated to last four weeks.
