Husband who survived Calgary shooting that killed wife pleads guilty to money laundering

A Calgary man who survived a brazen daytime shooting that left his wife deadhas pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Last August, Talal Fouani, 47,and Nakita Baron, 31, were shotin theirBentley as it pulled out of their driveway in the southwest community of Evergreen.

Two months earlier, Fuoanihad beencharged with organized crime offences. He was on bail at the time of the shooting.

On Friday, Fouani entered his plea before provincial court Judge Greg Stirling.

• Husband who survived Calgary shooting that killed wife was on bail for organized crime offences

The judge will hear sentencing arguments from defence lawyer Yoav Niv and prosecutor Danielle Szabo at a later date.

Niv is applying for a publication ban on the facts of the case and the sentencing hearing. CBC News, along with other media organizations,isopposing that application.

• Police seize waterfront home, Lamborghinis, and millions of dollars in drugs bound for Alberta

Fouani was charged alongside14 others following a cross-border, $55-million drug bust involving Mexican cartels, according to police.

His company, Fouani Equity Funds Ltd. which describesFouanias a venture capitalist and investor was also charged with laundering proceeds for an organized crime group.

Project Cobra

The investigation, dubbed "Project Cobra," began in 2020and involved the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), Calgary police, U.S. Homeland Securityand officers in Niagara, Ont., Saskatchewanand Osoyoos, B.C.

Police alleged the group of men and women charged in Project Cobra were moving cocaine and methamphetamineproduced by Mexican cartels to Alberta.

According to ALERT, Ricco King, 50, is accused of being the top figure in the criminal organization. King faces charges of trafficking, money laundering and participation in a criminal organization.

Trials have not yet taken place for the co-accused.

A week after Baron was killed,Michael Tyrel Arnold, 34, of Sherwood Park was arrested by Edmonton police. He was charged withfirst-degree murder and attempted murder.

Arnold's preliminary inquiry is set to take place in the fall.