The Chamber of Federal Cassation in Criminal Matters (Argentina's highest criminal court) decided on Friday, August 14, 2026, that the investigation into alleged money laundering linked to a luxury mansion in Pilar – valued at US$ 17 million – must continue in the federal justice system, not in the specialized economic criminal court. By a majority, judges Mariano Borinsky and Diego Barroetaveña (with a formal dissent from Alejandro Slokar) ordered the case file to be sent to the Federal Chamber of Appeals of San Martín so that, without delay, it can be forwarded to the Federal Court of Campana, presided over by Adrián González Charvay.
The jurisdictional conflict
The investigation began in December 2025 following a complaint against Luciano Pantano and his mother Ana Conte, owners of the company Real Central SRL, which acquired the property in Villa Rosa, Pilar. The case was linked to an alleged money laundering scheme involving officials of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), particularly its treasurer Pablo Toviggino.
The file passed through several courts: federal judge Daniel Rafecas sent it to the economic criminal court, but that court rejected its jurisdiction. After a dispute, the Economic Criminal Chamber decided in June that it would stay with Court No. 10 in the city of Buenos Aires, temporarily headed by Verónica Straccia. The defense, led by attorney Mariano Morán, demanded that the case return to Campana on territorial grounds.
What is money laundering? It is the process of concealing the illicit origin of funds to give them a legal appearance. In Argentina, it is defined in Article 303 of the Penal Code and its investigation falls under federal jurisdiction, not the economic criminal court, which specializes in crimes such as tax evasion, smuggling, or foreign exchange violations.
The reasoning behind the ruling
In an 83-page ruling, the judges stated that the economic criminal court lacks jurisdiction over money laundering, citing precedents from the Supreme Court such as “Olivetto” and “Brulc”. They also emphasized that no legal provision assigns this crime to the specialized court, so it must be investigated by the federal judiciary.
The prosecution, represented by Mario Villar, opposed the transfer, arguing that the case is broader and includes events that occurred in Buenos Aires, such as financial offices on Corrientes Avenue or a law firm on Lavalle Street. However, the judges found that the defense successfully demonstrated that the property – the focal point of the investigation – lies within the jurisdiction of Campana.
What was found in the mansion?
During a raid, authorities seized 54 high-end and collector vehicles valued at nearly US$ 4 million, as well as items believed to belong to Pablo Toviggino. Documents and other evidence were also collected, supporting the theory that the property served as a front for AFA executives.
Judge González Charvay has already handled other cases related to the association and had raised jurisdictional conflicts to consolidate the investigations. Now, with this ruling, the case returns to his court, which must continue the investigation without invalidating the actions already taken.
Reactions and next steps
The decision was welcomed by the defense, while the prosecution is expected to comply. The San Martín Chamber is likely to forward the case in the coming days. This case is connected to the Yategate scandal (September 2023), which investigated the illicit enrichment of former Lomas de Zamora mayor Martín Insaurralde and his ex-partner Jesica Cirio, but this time the focus is on the AFA.