Oklahoma City Restaurant Front For Alleged Money Laundering, Black Market Marijuana Operations

An Oklahoma City family-run business is under investigation by the federal government. 

The restaurant in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Asian District is believed to be a front for money laundering and drug trafficking. The investigation began in January 2019.

According to a 44-page affidavit, federal agents said the leader of the illegal organization moved from Michigan to Oklahoma because of the booming marijuana grow market. He is now accused of taking part in a black market drug ring.

The details were spelled out in a federal document filed in the Western District of Oklahoma. The affidavit named an operation called "LIN DTO" run by one man and named his three brothers, their mother, father, and a man outside the family as co-conspirators.

Agents focused their attention on a LIN DTO owned "Private Kitchen" in the city's Asian District. The restaurant appeared to be open Tuesday afternoon, but there were no customers. The people inside the business refused to comment about the investigation.

The affidavit stated, "regular surveillance of the business found individuals coming and going from the restaurant carrying backpacks, boxes or luggage." The document noted this was “odd” activity for a restaurant.

Federal agents noted that the head of LIN DTO "appears to not only be distributing marijuana from his own grows, but also laundering drugs proceeds for other distributors."

Law enforcement has seized more than 4,000 marijuana plants from illegal grows, more than 3,500 pounds of processed marijuana and over $225,000 in U.S. currency from LIN DTO.

Warrants were filed for five suspects. The penalty for money laundering is 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.