Feds Release Photo of $20M Found in Box Spring

A judge on Monday ruled that 28-year-old Cleber Rene Rizerio Rocha is a flight risk and held him on a charge of conspiring to commit money laundering

Federal officials have released an eyebrow-raising evidence photo in the case of a Brazilian man's arrest and the discovery of about $20 million in cash hidden inside a box spring in a Massachusetts apartment.

A judge on Monday ordered 28-year-old Cleber Rene Rizerio Rocha be held without bail, ruling him a flight risk and holding him on a charge of conspiring to commit money laundering. 

Rocha was arrested this month when the money was discovered in a Westborough apartment. 

Prosecutors say Rocha was part of a scheme to transfer millions of dollars to Brazil by laundering the cash through Hong Kong. The money was from TelexFree, a defunct internet phone company authorities say was a massive pyramid scheme. 

Meanwhile, Boston's U.S. Attorney's Office released an evidence photo on Monday that depicted the enormous amount of cash stuffed into the box spring.

The Boston Herald reports that Rocha's lawyer argued that his client had no criminal record and should be granted bail with GPS monitoring.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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