Glamorous influencer who posed with stacks of cash arrested in sprawling money laundering investigation

A TikTok influencer who is also the daughter of a notorious drug lord has been arrested as authorities investigate a $25.8 million money laundering scheme tied to her father. Michelle Jamileth Macías Penarrieta, 23, was arrested alongside her mother, Inda Mariela Penarrieta Tuarez, on Sunday in Sabana de Torres, a small town in northeastern Colombia. The two women are the daughter and wife of infamous Ecuadorian narcotrafficker Adolfo 'Fito' Macias, the leader of the Los Choneros gang, which was designated as a terrorist group by the US last year. In January 2024, Fito escaped an Ecuadorian prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking and murder. His escape prompted Ecuador's government to declare a state of emergency as violence erupted in the streets of Guayaquil, the country's largest city, and gang members held news anchors at gunpoint during a live broadcast.Fito was recaptured and extradited to the US last year. He is facing seven charges, including drugs and weapons trafficking, in a New York court and is facing 20 years to life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. While her father led a criminal empire, Michelle grew an enormous following online, where she went by the name Queen Michelle. The influencer showed off her luxury lifestyle and posed with huge stacks of cash on TikTok, where she had 65 million followers, according to The Sun and Colombian outlet El Colombiano. Her account was taken down after she was arrested. Michelle Jamileth Macías Penarrieta, 23, an influencer and the daughter of Ecuadorian drug lord Adolfo 'Fito' Macias, has been arrested on money laundering charges Michelle showed off her luxury lifestyle and posed with huge stacks of cash to her 65 million followers on TikTok, where she went by Queen Michelle Michelle was arrested alongside her mother, Inda Mariela Penarrieta Tuarez, in Colombia on Sunday. They are accused of facilitating a $25.8 million money laundering scheme Fito was recaptured last year and extradited to the US after escaping an Ecuadorian prison in January 2024. He is now facing up to life in prison in a New York courtMichelle is also a wannabe pop star who released several songs on YouTube. In one of the music videos, she could be seen on a ranch surrounded by horses and luxury vehicles. That video has also been taken down. Ecuadorian authorities allege that the lifestyle Michelle was showing off was funded by dirty money and tied to her father's criminal activities.Investigators in the country indicted 17 people in March in a money laundering case related to Fito's finances, as they accused at least four companies of moving the drug lord's money around to make it appear legitimate, The Sun reported. Ecuadorian authorities also allege that Michelle and Inda attempted to ally with Colombian criminal organizations to facilitate drugs and arms trafficking and money laundering. The mother and daughter had been staying in the town where they were arrested for four months after having spent time in the Colombian cities of Bucaramanga and Medellin, The Sun reported. They were located through a surveillance operation before Colombian authorities swarmed the residence and arrested the pair. Colombia's president, Abelardo De La Espriella, celebrated the arrest in a statement on X and shared pictures and footage of the mother and daughter being taken into custody.'They are the wife and daughter of alias “Fito,” who led Los Choneros, one of Ecuador's most violent criminal organizations, dedicated to international drug trafficking,' De La Espriella wrote in Spanish. Michelle was also a wannabe pop star who released several songs on YouTube. Her TikTok account and some of her songs were taken down after she was arrested Ecuadorian authorities allege that Michelle's lifestyle was funded by dirty money tied to her father's criminal empire. A suitcase full of cash featured in one of her TikToks is pictured Colombia President Abelardo De La Espriella said that the arrest was the result of a joint effort by Colombian and Ecuadorian authorities and the FBI Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said: 'This is how it's done, Abelardo: together and with results. We captured them in Colombia, and they will face justice in Ecuador''Ecuadorian authorities are investigating them for using shell companies to launder the organization's money,' his statement continued. 'I'll gladly send them to my good friend, President Daniel Noboa, so they can face Ecuadorian justice.'The Colombian president said that his country's army, national police and attorney general's office worked with Ecuadorian authorities and the FBI to carry out the investigation and arrest of Michelle and Inda. 'Colombia will not be a refuge for the finances of transnational crime,' his statement said. 'In the era of the Tiger, the family members of bandits who commit crimes with them will not go unpunished.' Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa replied to the statement and said: 'This is how it's done, Abelardo: together and with results. We captured them in Colombia, and they will face justice in Ecuador. 'They are called to trial for money laundering for the Choneros. The money that buys weapons, pays hitmen, and sustains extortion. It is the structure with which they terrorize Ecuadorian families.'