Hotel claimed by ex star pitcher tests positive for drugs, Prosecutor

Santo Domingo.- The Justice Ministry’s Anti-money Laundering Unit revealed Monday that the Las Carelas hotel which ex major league pitcher Jose Rijo says he owns, but seized from the fugitive Matias Carela Castro, tested positive for cocaine in a Forensics investigation.

Carela is accused of ordering the murder of the journalist José Silvestre in La Romana.

Unit director German Miranda said if convicted one conspiracy to launder money Rijo faces up to 10 years in prison.

"From now on any major league player regardless of how many balls he throws, or even what arm they have, or any sport business leader should know they cannot recycle money for a person or institution, or a legal entity whose assets are of an unknown origin," he said.

Miranda said that the prosecution has witnesses and evidence sufficient to prove the veracity of these allegations in court.

Rijo was charged Friday in San Pedro (east) before Instruction Judge Ramón Martínez, in an indictment which also includes Matías Avelino Castro (Joaquin Espinal Almeyda) “Daniel” Ángel Amed Mañon, Elvin Canario, Fermín Marcelino Calderón, Denny Junior Serrano, Franklin Lugo Mejía and Raisa Clarine Avelino.