The murder of Katherine Aguasvivas in Osceola County allegedly has a chilling connection to drug money laundering, shedding light on a complex criminal network.
Quick Takes
- Aguasvivas was carjacked in Winter Springs last year, after which her body was found in her burning car.
- Investigators now believe she was involved in transporting $170,000 in drug money and that the killing was targeted.
- Miguel Aguasvivas, her estranged husband, was accused of being involved in the scheme linked to her death and has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge.
- The incident was tied to a larger undercover DEA investigation.
Central Florida Crime Unveiled
In a violent carjacking episode on April 11, 2024, Katherine Aguasvivas was abducted near Winter Springs, forced to drive at gunpoint across counties. Her body was discovered in a burnt vehicle in Osceola County. Key investigations have since connected her murder to a drug money laundering scheme involving her estranged husband. Federal filings revealed the group’s widespread operations through South and Central Florida.
The police believe her murder was not a random act. According to US Attorney Roger Handberg, the group deliberately targeted her for $170,000 in drug money that she had collected from Central Florida and was supposed to deliver to her husband. This incident is a small part of the DEA’s ongoing investigation into a sophisticated drug network.
Federal prosecutors have revealed that Miguel Aguasvivas has agreed to plead guilty to money laundering. Authorities said his wife, Katherine Aguasvivas, was carjacked and killed last year as a result of his actions. https://t.co/RKSwUhYIMl
— FOX 35 Orlando (@fox35orlando) April 10, 2025
A Murky Web of Drugs and Deceit
According to court filings, Aguasvivas had made similar trips to Central Florida multiple times. However, she was not originally supposed to make the April 11 trip. She reportedly ended up replacing a different driver.
Giovany Crespo Hernandez, the man she was sent to collect the money from, allegedly conspired with two other men to take the $170,000 and kill her.
Six individuals have reportedly been linked to her death and are awaiting trial. The case underscores systemic drug distribution challenges and the risks involved for those tangled within its web.
Money Laundering to Cryptocurrency Conversion
Miguel Aguasvivas’s involvement in the drug network included intentions to convert the drug proceeds into cryptocurrency for a Colombian cartel, highlighting the adaptability of crime syndicates. He was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, and has since pleaded guilty to the charge. He is currently facing up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Katherine’s untimely death illuminates the real dangers linked to such criminal enterprises, where monetary greed often results in fatal consequences. As this case unfolds, it serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing war against drug-related crimes.
Sources
- 1 year later: New details emerge in Central Florida carjacking and murder case
- Shocking details unearthed after South Florida woman carjacked, set ablaze in massive drug scheme
- A Florida woman’s body was found in her burnt-out car last year. Now cops believe she was part of her husband’s money laundering ring
