A federal judge on Monday authorized the release of the owners of a St. George used car business pending trial on charges they operated a money-laundering scheme.
Joseph Paul Evans and Christopher Madsen, both 27, were to be released from jail on Monday night.
Evans and Madsen were arrested Wednesday at St. George Auto and RV Center Inc., 488 E. St. George Boulevard, and held until Monday's detention hearing.
U.S. Magistrate Samuel Alba ordered both men to retain their current residences, abstain from drug or alcohol use, maintain full-time employment and remove all weapons from their home. He restricted any travel beyond Nevada, where the men also have a business, and Arizona as needed to enter Nevada from St. George.
Evans is charged with five felony counts of money laundering, a charge punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and one count of structuring financial transactions, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Madsen is charged with two counts of money laundering and one count of structuring financial transactions.
The charges against the men, chiefly alleging they used their business to conceal a profitable illegal drug operation, are the result of a yearlong investigation.
Lt. Russell Riggs, commander of the Washington County Drug/Gang Task Force, said Evans and Madsen enjoyed luxurious lifestyles with expensive homes, cars, motorcycles, boats and property in Brian Head, a ski resort community in Iron County.
St. George Auto and RV Center Inc. is closed, and its license has been revoked by the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division.
The agency anticipates filing additional state charges alleging the men were involved in fraudulent loans, false titles and other violations related to the auto sales industry sometime this week.
Law enforcers seized bank accounts, vehicles and other property traced by authorities to the alleged money laundering operation last week.
A five-day jury trial is scheduled to begin July 14 before U.S. District Judge Paul Cassell.