Mexican defender and former Barcelona center back Rafa Márquez has been banned from entering the U.S., as an investigation conducted by the United States Treasury revealed that the 4-time World Cup player is involved in a scheme to launder money for a drug kingpin named Raul Flores Hernández.
Márquez, who's name is joined by popular folk singer Julión Álvarez, will have his assets in the U.S. frozen, and all U.S. Citizens will be forbidden of doing business with them.
Nicknamed "El Kaiser de Michoacán", Márquez has established himself as one of the best Mexican players of all time. Márquez plays for Liga MX side Atlas, and is constantly included in Mexico's squads playing friendly games in the United States.
Márquez played for Barcelona from 2003 to 2010, winning two UEFA Champions League titles for Los Blaugranas, among other trophies.
The Mexican football star and singer Alvarez "have longstanding relationships with Flores Hernandez, and have acted as front persons for him and his DTO and held assets on their behalf. Also designated today are Mauricio Heredia Horner and Marco Antonio Fregoso Gonzalez for acting for or on behalf of Rafa Marquez," according to the document released by U.S. Treasury.
If found guilty, Márquez could be forced to pay a fine of up to $5 million dollars. If he's deeper into the organnizatio, he could face from 10 to 30 years in prison.
