Friday, Dec. 14, 2012

Feds: 4 Texas officers guarded cocaine shipments

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Bond has been set at $100,000 for three South Texas lawmen charged with taking thousands of dollars in bribes to guard shipments of cocaine.

The officers appearing in court Friday include 29-year-old Jonathan Trevino, whose father is prominent Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino. The two others are Hidalgo sheriff's deputies Fabian Rodriguez and Gerardo Duran.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos said it was unlikely the three men could be released before Monday.

All three were taken into custody Thursday when federal prosecutors announced the charges that have sent shockwaves through the area's law enforcement community.

Authorities allege the three men and a fourth officer were members of the "Panama Unit," an anti-drug trafficking task force. Instead of combatting the drug trade, prosecutors say the four provided protection for it.

2012-12-14 18:11:45 GMT

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