California man pleads guilty to money-laundering charge in Kansas

A California man pleaded guilty Monday to a federal money laundering charge in Kansas, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Andris Cukurs, 69, Glendale, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In his plea, he admitted that on Nov. 14, 2014, he was carrying $314,855 in cash in his car when he was stopped on I-70 by the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department.

Cukurs had an agreement with another person to deliver the money, which he knew was derived from the distribution of drugs.

Sentencing is set for March 3. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 30 months in federal prison. Grissom commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.