Matthew Cox

This worked to my advantage because it allowed me as a 21-year-old to be able to go around telling people that, hey, I'm an international businessman.

I'm working in the heavy industrial equipment space.

You know, my parents were never suspicious of anything because they'd see me with my suitcase show up at home and I've got all kinds of pamphlets and stuff.

So as far as my father was concerned, I'm in the business of selling this heavy equipment.

These earth movers back in 1990, they cost half a million dollars a piece.

And so nobody was surprised when all of a sudden I was able to move from West Covina to Beverly Hills.

Well, I'm generating five figures a month in proceeds.

So the Sinaloa method as it developed in the 1990s was essentially take U.S.

dollars that are available in the United States, sell them as a discount in South America to businessmen throughout the continent who were interested in making purchases here in the United States.

And so the reason why it really worked beneficially is because

You know, here in the States, we've got very low tariffs.

Well, in Brazil, from my own personal experience, I can tell you that at the time, tariffs were like 40%.

Just something outrageous.

Right.

And so by purchasing the dollars in the United States, first of all, they're getting a more favorable exchange rate.

Secondly, there's no transaction fees.

Third, there's anonymity.

So the government of Brazil doesn't realize that these financial transactions are taking place.

Fourth, there was a practice that was called misinvoicing.

So essentially that half a million dollar earth mover, well, you got it for 110 grand.