A woman from Riverside, California, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for her role in a money laundering conspiracy linked to drug trafficking. Destiny Canty, 46, received a 34-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on February 9, 2026. She will also serve one year of supervised release and must pay a $100 special assessment.
Canty was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on November 10, 2025. According to court documents, Canty accepted payments from co-conspirators in South Dakota and other locations through electronic means such as CashApp, electronic deposits, and Western Union. She knew the funds were proceeds from illegal narcotics sales and transferred the money to the leader of the drug trafficking organization. The transactions were designed to conceal both the source of the funds and their true ownership.
Investigators determined that Canty laundered approximately $80,000 herself. The total amount laundered by the organization exceeded $700,000.
U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons stated: “Our law enforcement partners are using every available tool to dismantle drug trafficking organizations. That includes following the money and prosecuting those who try to launder it for these criminal groups. For this defendant, and many more to come, the money trail ends in a federal prison cell.”
IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge William Steenson said: “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to working alongside other law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug trafficking organizations. We use our financial expertise to track down members of these organizations to shut down their funding sources and bring them to justice. Each one who goes to prison is a victory for our communities.”
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Canty was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.
This prosecution is part of an initiative under Executive Order 14159 aimed at targeting criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, human smuggling operations, and related crimes within the United States and abroad through interagency cooperation.
