The case against former DEA official Paul Campo and co-defendant Stefano Sensi has become a major court battle in New York. Prosecutors say they moved millions of dollars for a Mexican drug cartel. The defense denies the charges. The case is being heard in federal court in Manhattan. It has drawn attention because it involves a former top law enforcement officer and serious crimes like money laundering and narco-terrorism.
A Former DEA Official Paul Campo in Handcuffs
Paul Campo once held a powerful position in the DEA, the U.S. agency that fights drug trafficking. Now he is accused of being part of a conspiracy to launder about 12 million dollars, money that prosecutors say was meant to support a Mexican drug cartel.
On December 5, Campo went to court and asked to be released on bail while his case continues. His lawyer argued that the charges were “preposterous” and said it made no sense that anyone would pay about 1.5 million dollars just to convert money into cryptocurrency. The defense also said Campo was not wealthy enough to be a serious flight risk, noting that he earns about 200,000 dollars a year and has less than 500,000 dollars in his bank account.
Prosecutors strongly opposed his release. An Assistant U.S. Attorney told the judge that even Pre-Trial Services recommended Campo be kept in custody and warned that he could flee if freed.
Magistrate Judge Lehrberger said the law assumes people charged with such serious crimes should remain in jail unless there is a strong reason to release them. He then ordered that Campo stay in custody.
On December 8, the district judge scheduled another court conference for December 11 to discuss the case with Campo and his co-defendant, Stefano Sensi.
Inside the Courtroom and the Evidence
On December 11, the courtroom scene showed how serious the case is. Lawyers for both defendants were present. Campo appeared in court in custody. Sensi, the other defendant, was also there, and observers noted that he looked tired and slumped in his chair.
The judge in charge, Judge Gardephe, said clearly that the case involves accusations of narco-terrorism and money laundering. These are not small charges. Narco-terrorism means using drug money or drug groups to support violent or terror-related actions. Money laundering means hiding the true source of illegal money by moving it through banks, businesses, or other systems.
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The prosecutors said that their investigation had already led them to seize 17 phones. Phones are often very important in such cases because they can show messages, calls, photos, and plans between people who are accused of working together.
During the hearing, the court also discussed timing. The judge set a future date, February 6 at 12:30 pm, for another step in the case. This kind of scheduling is normal in big federal cases, which often take a long time to prepare.
While Campo remained in custody, attention also started to focus more on his co-defendant, Sensi. The two men are accused of being part of the same overall plan to move and hide cartel money. But their situations in jail and their requests to the court have not been exactly the same.
Co Defendant Sensi Tries for Bail as Prosecutors Push Back
On December 27, co-defendant Stefano Sensi asked the court to release him on bail. Court papers said he was chained to a bed in a hospital, though the hospital’s name was not made public. He offered a 500,000 dollar bond, backed by the value of his house and his business, Sensi Electric LLC, as a guarantee that he would return to court.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office opposed his request on January 6 and asked the judge to keep him in custody. Prosecutors argued that Sensi should not be released while the serious charges against him are still being reviewed.
To support their position, prosecutors included photos of guns that they said were found on Sensi’s cell phone. They said this raised concerns about public safety and about the risk that he might try to flee or cause trouble if released.
They also filed information about Sensi’s health, but much of it was blacked out in public records. Paul Campo remains in jail without bail, and Sensi’s request for release is still being strongly contested in court.