Posted on 05/05/2009 3:06:32 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Federal officials said they have arrested four people and seized more than 586 pounds of cocaine after learning that a City of La Grulla truck was being used to smuggle drugs.
Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas said an anonymous tip led investigators to follow the city truck last week.
Authorities followed a truck with City of La Grulla decals make an alleged delivery to a home at 828 3rd Street in Rio Grande City last Thursday.
Investigators found several bundles of cocaine inside the garage of the house.
Court records show that information obtained in Rio Grande City led investigators to a second home at 7113 N. 5th Street in McAllen where authorities arrested two people and seized at least 454 pounds of cocaine.
Authorities identified the driver of the City of La Grulla truck as 45-year-old Lizandro Ramiez, an American citizen.
The Starr County homeowner was identified as 32-year-old Mexican national Alejandro Alvarez-Reyes.
The two arrested at the McAllen home were identified as 26-year-old American citizen Hector Rubio-Garcia and 20-year-old Mexican national Antonio Magana-Vargas.
Court records show that the two homes had been used to house cocaine on several occasions prior to the arrests.
All four men remain in custody where are facing federal drug charges.
Former Starr County sheriff pleads guilty in drug case
Friday, May 01, 2009 at 11:02 a.m.
Former Starr County Sheriff Rey Guerra plead guilty to one count of conspiracy this morning.
He entered the plea in federal court in McAllen.
According to his attorney Phillip Hilder, Guerra will be sentenced in July.
The two other remaining charges on his indictment will be dropped at the time of sentencing.
The conspiracy charges specifically deals with providing information to a co-defendant in the case, after the fact.
Hilder told Action 4 News that Guerra recognizes he made a error in judgment and takes responsibility for his actions.
The Houston-based attorney said his client apologize in court to his family, friends and constituents whom entrusted him and supported him through this ordeal.
Starr County ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
City of La Grulla truck
Driven by Government Union worker.
City officials in La Grulla maintained that the truck he allegedly used in the smuggling scheme was not a city vehicle. “It was donated to the city, but no one ever did the paperwork to put it into use,” City Commissioner Joel Zarate said. “We don't consider it a city truck.”
“We're not sure if he was on duty at the time,” Mayor Oscar Gonzalez said.
Amazing!
Ping!
Major CYA...
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