AZMEX UPDATE 2 29 NOV 2012
Note: not really.
Former Border Patrol agent gets 4 years for gun smuggling
By Aaron Bracamontes / El Paso Times
Posted: 11/29/2012 12:34:23 PM MST
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_22089977/former-border-
patrol-agent-gets-4-years-gun
A former Border Patrol agent was sentenced to more than four years in
a federal prison for gun-smuggling today.
Ricardo Montalvo, 28, pled guilty to the charges in August and was
sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones to 51
months in a low-security Federal Correctional Institution in Bastrop,
Texas.
He will also pay a $100 fine and be on three years probation
following his release.
Before Montalvo was sentenced he said he was ready to "better myself."
"I would like to apologize to you, the prosecutor, my family and my
co-workers that I hurt," Montalvo said. "I made a terrible mistake
and there are no excuses. I am ready to face the consequences. I hurt
everyone I love."
Montalvo will also be enrolled in a drug and alcohol program while in
prison, which could reduce his sentence by a year if successful.
His lawyer, Sib Abraham, said a dependence on alcohol was a
contributing factor in Montalvo's crime because he "was not in a good
place." Montalvo's family was in the courtroom for his sentencing.
Some of them tried to fight back tears after the hearing.
The family declined comment.
Note: Operation Stonegarden money.
Eagle Pass Daily - News
Joe M. Rodriguez pleads guilty to role in scheme to steal funds from
Maverick County
Written by Staff
Thursday, 29 November 2012 14:49
http://eaglepassdaily.com/
EAGLE PASS -- Joe M. Rodriguez, age 37 and owner of Capitol
Construction in Eagle Pass, Texas, faces up to ten years in federal
prison after pleading guilty today to a theft charge related to a
scheme to steal more than $17,000 in Maverick County funds announced
United States Attorney Robert Pitman. Rodriguez remains on a $20,000
bond pending sentencing. No sentencing date has been scheduled.
Appearing before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses, Rodriguez pleaded
guilty to aiding and abetting theft concerning programs receiving
federal funds. According to the factual basis, between September 18,
2011, and October 11, 2011, Rodriguez, a private contractor who
performed work for Maverick County, was issued several checks
totaling more than $17,000 by Maverick County for allegedly providing
to the county a forklift, as well as a motor for both a water truck
and a forklift.
Rodriguez deposited the checks into his bank account and then gave
thousands of dollars to co-defendant Jaime Flores, per their usual
arrangement.
Rodriguez never provided Maverick County a forklift or the motor for
a water truck and forklift. By pleading guilty, Rodriguez admitted
that by accepting the checks, depositing the checks, and then giving
a portion of the money from the checks to Flores that he was
assisting agents of Maverick County in stealing funds from Maverick
County.
Rodriguez's co-defendants--former Maverick County Purchasing Agent
Juan Carlos Moncada, age 32, and Maverick County Precinct One Foreman
Jaime Flores, age 33—remain under indictment for wire fraud and theft
concerning programs receiving federal funds. Jury selection and trial
for Moncada and Flores is scheduled for January 15, 2013. If
convicted of wire fraud, each defendant faces up to 20 years in
federal prison; theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, up
to ten years in federal prison. It is important to note that an
indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as
evidence of guilt. Moncada and Flores arepresumed innocent until
proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant
United States Attorney Michael Galdo is prosecuting this case on
behalf of the Government.
In 2011, Maverick County received hundreds of thousands of federal
dollars as part of Operation Stonegarden, a federal grant program
that provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement
agencies to enhance their capabilities to jointly secure U.S. borders
and territories.
Policias aseguran cuatro armas de alto poder
Written by Staff
Thursday, 29 November 2012 13:33
http://eaglepassdaily.com/
EAGLE PASS -- Una llamada anoníma resultó en el aseguramiento de
cuatro armas de alto poder, de acuerdo a información del Jefe de
Policía Tony Castañeda.
Castañeda dio a conocer que el decomiso ocurrió el miercoles por la
noche en el area centro de la ciudad, sobre la calle Washington.
"Vecinos de esta zona residencial dieron aviso de que vieron a un
sujeto bajarse de un vehiculo con una maleta azul, la cual intentó
esconderla dentro de un bote de basura", dijo Castañeda, "pero cuando
llegaron los oficiales el joven ya se había ido."
Los oficiales procedieron a revisar el contenido de la maleta y
descubrieron cuatro armas tipo AK-47, envueltas en ropa interior.
Castañeda dijo que su departamento ya investiga el caso en conjunto
con otra dependencia federal para determinar el origen de estas armas.
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