AZMEX EXTRA 26-5-12

AZMEX EXTRA 26 MAY 2012

Note: "as a legal permanent resident, he could not legally buy a
weapon himself."

CBP officer charged with straw purchase of firearms
May 25, 2012 8:07 PM
Madeline Buckley
http://www.themonitor.com/news/pena-61125-agents-complaint.html

Federal agents arrested a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer
Thursday accused of illegally purchasing firearms for someone else,
according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday.

Manuel Eduardo Pena, 38, appeared Friday morning before a U.S.
magistrate judge.
Pena is on administrative leave pending adjudication of the charges,
CBP spokesman Eddie Perez said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Office of
Professional Responsibility observed Pena purchasing hunting rifles
from Academy Sports and Outdoors on two separate occasions in
December, the complaint states.

The agents then saw Pena sell the weapons to a man in the parking
lot, the complaint alleges.

After the first time, on Dec. 5, ICE and FBI agents tailed the buyer
to his home and asked him about the purchase, the complaint says.
The man admitted to buying the rifle from Pena because as a legal
permanent resident, he could not legally buy a weapon himself.

The agents took as evidence the receipt for the purchase and the rifle.

Several weeks later, on Dec. 19, agents surveying the Academy store
again witnessed Pena purchase a hunting rifle for reimbursement from
the same man.

The complaint states that upon purchasing the rifles, Pena wrote he
was buying them for his own use. Pena, who was released on $50,000
bond, is scheduled to appear in court again next week.



Note: "At least two of the weapons were Uzi-style submachine guns."

Duval County deputy arrested in alleged drug conspiracy
May 25, 2012 6:42 PM
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/county-61122-deputy-drug.html
Jared Taylor

McALLEN — Federal agents arrested a Duval County deputy sheriff
accused of setting up a fake traffic stop to allow cocaine smugglers
move a load past a Border Patrol checkpoint.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested Ruben Silva, 35, a
sheriff's deputy in Duval County, on one count of conspiracy to
distribute cocaine.

Also arrested were the alleged drug smugglers, brothers Jerry and
Jose Luis Tovar, both of rural Mission.

An informant met with Silva while at Jerry Tovar's home on the 6300
block of North Schuerbach Road, where Silva said he would conduct a
fake traffic stop, seize 10 kilograms of cocaine and drive it past
the Border Patrol checkpoint, a criminal complaint states.

Silva told the informant to have $5,000 in cash that he would collect
during the fake traffic stop, the complaint states. Silva would then
pick up the 10 kilos of coke from Jerry Tovar and smuggle it through
the Border Patrol checkpoint in a tire on his Duval County patrol
vehicle. Then, the informant would be able to pick up the drugs at
Silva's home in Freer.

Two undercover agents on Monday met with Tovar at Taqueria Don
Felipe, at the intersection of 5 Mile Line and La Homa Road, where
they provided photos of the vehicles to be used in the fake traffic
stop and sent them to Silva. The undercover agents and the informant
then drove to Hebbronville in two vehicles.

Silva and another unnamed man stopped the two vehicles along Highway
16, where Silva collected the $5,000.

Agents arrested Tovar and Mike Lara, who is accused of attempting to
collect 6 kilograms of cocaine, on Thursday near Mission.

Jerry and Jose Luis Tovar also face charges of selling six firearms
to an undercover federal agent, a U.S. Attorney's Office news release
states. At least two of the weapons were Uzi-style submachine guns.
Both Tovar brothers are convicted felons prohibited from possessing
firearms.

Silva faces between 10 years and life in prison and a fine of up to
$20 million, if convicted.
The Tovar brothers each face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000
fine on the firearms charges.

All three men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos on
Friday in federal court in McAllen. They remain in custody without bond.