Borderland Beat
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Attorneys started preparing termination paperwork Thursday morning for disgraced Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office Cmdr. José Padilla, said Sheriff Lupe Treviño.
Federal agents arrested Padilla early Tuesday morning, when prosecutors unsealed an indictment against him for marijuana smuggling and money laundering. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation.
Padilla worked with a Weslaco-based drug trafficking operation run by Tomas "El Gallo" Gonzalez, who co-owns a trucking business called T&F Produce. The drug traffickers moved marijuana and cocaine from Texas to Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and other states, according to federal court records.
Sheriff Treviño said he expected the attorneys from McAllen-based law firm Atlas Hall and Rodriguez to finish the termination paperwork Thursday. They'll also have to determine whether to attempt to deliver the documents to Padilla — in federal detention — or his attorney.
"It's not like he's going anywhere," Sheriff Treviño said.
update:
Source: The Monitor-Thank you to "Luis" for the heads up
update:
Padilla appeared in federal court at 11:30 a.m. on Friday for a detention hearing.
Former Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office Cmdr. Jose Padilla pleaded not guilty Friday to federal marijuana trafficking and money laundering charges.
Hands clasped behind him, Jose. A "Joe" Padilla, 53, pleaded not guilty Friday morning at Bentsen Tower. Federal Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos set bond at $100,000 — Padilla must post a 5 percent cash deposit — and ordered house arrest
Federal agents arrested Padilla early Tuesday morning, when he arrived at McAllen-Miller International Airport from Las Vegas.