EDWARDSVILLE – A New Mexico resident accused of hiding the proceeds of illegal activity in a vehicle while driving through Madison County faces felony charges.
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Antonio Hernandez, 22, of Las Cruces, N.M., was charged on April 1, 2026 with two counts of money laundering, both Class 1 felonies, in Madison County.
On March 30, 2026, Hernandez reportedly knowingly transported $285,000 in U.S. currency which was “wrapped in bundles and hidden within a concealed compartment of a motor vehicle” while traveling through Madison County, according to charging documents.
Authorities allege the money was hidden within the vehicle in an effort to avoid a transaction reporting requirement under Illinois state law and conceal the criminally derived nature of the currency.
The case against Hernandez was presented by the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), a division of the Illinois State Police. He was ordered released from custody pending trial.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
