Road cameras bust alleged money launderer

Maricopa Police Department arrested a teenager wanted on charges of money laundering and racketeering out of Maricopa County Monday morning. 

Police arrested Aidan A. Mendez, 18, on six felony warrants after a license-plate reading camera sent officers his location. 

Cops received a hit on a FLOCK camera around 10:30 a.m. as Mendez drove his Dodge Charger through town, according to police documents. 

Officers spotted Mendez pulling into the QuikTrip parking lot on John Wayne Parkway and walking into the store. He confirmed his identity to the officers, who promptly arrested him. 

Mendez had warrants out of Maricopa County Superior Court for three counts of possessing narcotic drugs for sale, conspiracy, racketeering, money laundering and two counts of possessing narcotic drugs for sale. 

Mendez was booked into the Pinal County jail on his warrants on no bond. 

Mendez, who turns 19 today, has a lengthy criminal history. A charge was filed into Maricopa Municipal Court for driving with a suspended or revoked license Monday, according to court records. He had another case filed Oct. 23 for driving with a suspended or revoked license.

He has two unspecified pending criminal cases out of Maricopa in January and April this year. 

Ate age 17, Mendez also had criminal liquor and curfew charges filed in April 2022.

Editor’s note: This story was changed to reflect Mendez was not charged under ARS-2312C (using a minor for prostitution), but rather ARS-2312B (racketeering).

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