Posted on 06/12/2007 5:35:12 AM PDT by BGHater
Three Texas National Guardsmen serving on the U.S.-Mexico border to help prevent drug smuggling and illegal immigration were charged on Monday with taking cash to transport 24 undocumented aliens, federal prosecutors said.
U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle said Jose Rodrigo Torres, 26, from Laredo, Texas, was arrested on June 7 while in uniform driving along Interstate 35 south of San Antonio with the immigrants in his van.
Two other guardsmen -- Julio Cesar Pacheco, 25, also of Laredo, and Clarence Hodge Jr., 36, of Fort Worth, Texas -- were paid to approach Torres' van at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint to make it look like they were conducting National Guard business, prosecutors said.
Lt. Gen. Chuck Rodriguez, who commands the state's National Guard units as Texas adjutant general, said the three men were on active duty with Operation Jump Start in which the Guard performs unarmed support roles to back up the U.S. Border Patrol in south Texas.
Rodriguez said the National Guard was "fully cooperating" in the investigation.
DeGabrielle said Pacheco was suspected of being the ringleader of the operation, which involved several smuggling trips. The other two guardsmen were paid from $1,000 to $3,500 per trip, he said.
"The alleged actions of these men is disturbing and will be addressed," DeGabrielle said. He added that thousands of Texas National Guard troops daily do their duty without breaking the law.
Each man faces a maximum of 10 years in prison without parole and a fine of $250,000.
“actions of these men is disturbing” Maybe they should simply disappear and we can save a few dollars not sending them to jail
ping
Based on the reaction to Ramos & Compean this guy will probably get a raise and a medal.
Disappear? Jail? Heck, they’ll probably end up with cabinet posts in the W admin.
oh now it is “undocumented aliens”...
Im not disturbed by their behaviour at all in fact, I' venture to say that it is prety much to be expected now.
They’ll probably form a band with Cindy.
Throw the friggin book at em.
I am sure they will serve as much time as Ramos & Compean /sarc
Hang em high
They were just doing the jobs that Mexicans won’t do.
Revoke their citizenship (which they appear not to value) and kick ‘em all back over the border...IMHO
Guardsmen Suspected of Smuggling Illegals
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1848425/posts
Posted on 06/11/2007 1:11:58 PM CDT by dennisw
I missed that one. Thanks
One word - despicable.
Properly handled if guilty they are on their way to a Military Prison. That is where they belong for betraying their oath.
No place to be..
I wonder why they face such a lenient sentence?
W
You might want to take a look at this...
Charge them with treason and hang them...
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