A Miami Lakes man who hid $22 million of suspected marijuana trafficking money in buckets will keep $4 million, his home, his hydroponics garden supplies store and five Rolex watches, in accordance to a plea deal.
Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez, 46, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to money laundering and structuring bank deposits to avoid the federal government's reporting requirement, known as smurfing.
Marijuana trafficking and other charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
A June 2016 raid on Hernandez-Gonzalez's home uncovered 24 five-gallon buckets stuffed with money.
Hernandez-Gonzalez's The Blossom Experience store in Miami-Dade sold items such as lights, fertilizers and watering equipment for indoor gardening. Similar businesses ā though legal ā have long been accused of facilitating and encouraging the underground production of marijuana.
Hernandez-Gonzalez faces up to 30 years in prison. However, his defense team hopes he receives a lower sentence of about five years.