Free Republic

<p>McALLEN — Two South Texas Border Patrol agents appeared in federal court today on charges alleging they helped drug traffickers move their product across the U.S.-Mexico border.</p> <p>A grand jury in Houston returned sealed indictments Monday against Leonel Morales, 30, of the Border Patrol's Laredo sector and Salomon Ruiz, 34, of the Rio Grande Valley sector.</p>

BROWNSVILLE –Reymundo Guerra’s resignation as Starr County sheriff didn’t convince a federal magistrate judge to set bond for the former lawman, who is accused of using his position to assist high-ranking members of the Gulf Cartel. Defense attorney Philip Hilder said Guerra would appeal today’s denial by U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos. Unless overturned by a district court, Ramos’ decision means Guerra will remain behind bars pending trial in early December. Guerra, who had been sheriff for the past decade, submitted his resignation over the weekend after Ramos expressed concern about his return to the office he allegedly abused. The...

MEXICO CITY — U.S. Treasury officials Wednesday named 19 companies reportedly controlled by the sister of an indicted Mexican drug trafficker as money laundering operations for narcotics proceeds. Blanca Cazares was named along with 22 other Mexican nationals as being responsible for laundering drug profits from cocaine and other narcotics sold across the United States through boutiques, money exchange houses and other Mexican businesses. "Today's action exposes Blanca Cazares' sophisticated money laundering apparatus and subjects it to powerful economic sanctions," said Adam Szubin, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The designation puts "the global community on notice about...