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Newsbrief:
This
Week's
Corrupt
Cop
Story
2/28/03
A federal jury in McAllen,
TX, shot Valentine's Day arrows at two Rio Grande Valley police officers,
finding them guilty of aiding and abetting drug traffickers, extortion
and conspiracy on February 14. Former Donna, TX, police chief Marco
Abel Partida and former Donna police officer Gerardo Vigil were found guilty
of using police vehicles to escort hundreds of pounds of marijuana through
their town.
The two were set to be sentenced
Thursday. They face up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.
The busts came after convicted
drug dealer turned informant Rigoberto Quintanilla ratted out the pair.
Quintanilla secretly taped meetings where he, Partida and Vigil worked
out their deals, escorted what they thought to be loads of marijuana, and
divided up the spoils from their dirty work. Quintanilla turned informer
after being busted at a US Border Patrol checkpoint in a semi-trailer loaded
with 6,000 pounds of pot.
"This is not the end of the
process," assistant US Attorney Daniel Rodriguez told a press conference
after the verdict was announced. "It's the beginning of what we're
trying to accomplish, not only in the Valley, but in the whole southern
district of Texas -- hold people and especially public officials accountable."
As readers of this feature
undoubtedly realize, Rodriguez should count on being busy for the foreseeable
future.
-- END --
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Issue #276, 2/28/03
Peruvian Government Attacks Cocalero Movement -- Leaders Arrested, Others in Hiding as Protests Spread | The Road to Vienna: International Narcotics Control Board Annual Report Attacks Reformers, Reformers Scratch Back | Ashcroft's Pipe Dream, Bongmaker's Nightmare: Feds Arrest 55 in Paraphernalia Crackdown | Parallel Power Flexes Muscle in Brazil: Rio's Drug Commands in Pre-Carnival Show of Force | In Thailand, Clamor for Investigation Grows as Killings of Drug Suspects Continue | Marijuana at the State House 2003:00:00 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly | Alert: HEA Reform Legislation Re-filed, Needs Your Support | Mérida Footage, Photos Now Online | Newsbrief: Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Coop Head Gets Three Months in Jail for Trying to Inform Jurors | Newsbrief: Belgium to Legalize Marijuana Possession, Use | Newsbrief: Switzerland Marijuana Legalization Moving, Opposition Mobilizes | Newsbrief: "Kiddie Meth" Legislation Spreads to Illinois, Missouri | Newsbrief: MPP Releases TV Ads on Harms of Marijuana Prohibition in Third Phase of Group's "War on Drug Czar" Campaign | Newsbrief: Utah Drugged Driving Bill is DOA in House | Newsbrief: This Week's Corrupt Cop Story | The Reformer's Calendar
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