A Mexico City attorney who prosecutors say had a leading role in laundering millions through San Diego-based shell companies has pleaded guilty to federal charges, officials said Friday.

Prosecutors say at least $52.7 million generated across the country through the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug trafficking passed through the shell companies, then into Mexican bank accounts controlled by Hector Alejandro Paez Garcia, 43.

Employees allegedly travelled to dozens of U.S. cities to pick up cash in amounts of up to $200,000 that were then laundered through the shell companies.

Paez was described by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as “serving a managerial role” in the money laundering organization, the target of a long-running FBI investigation that resulted in 11 arrests and the seizure of more than $3.1

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