Austin-Area Man with Alleged Zetas Ties to Appear in Court

Some of the seven people in federal custody on charges of an alleged money laundering scheme for Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas are scheduled to appear in an Austin courtroom today.

Officials say the defendants hid millions of Zetas drug money in the horse racing business.

Forty-eight year-old horse trainer Eusevio Maldonado Huitron was arrested in Austin on Tuesday. He’s schedule to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew W. Austin at 2:30 p.m. for arraignment and a detention hearing.

Late last month, a Central Texas grand jury indicted 14 people with alleged ties to Los Zetas. The cartel’s leader, Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, and two of his brothers were among those indicted.

If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison.