41 Indicted In Texas In Drug Ring Probe
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(October 29, 2008)--Federal authorities said Wednesday 41 people have been indicted in Texas in an investigation of a drug trafficking and money laundering operation that stretched from Mexico to Georgia.

The two-year investigation was called "Operation Pay Cut."

Authorities say it yielded $22 million in drug proceeds, 223 kilograms of cocaine and more than 16,000 pounds of marijuana.

Three indictments naming the participants were unsealed in federal court in Atlanta on Tuesday, but many of those arrested were in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas.

Jerry Robinette, special agent in charge for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in San Antonio, said the indictment of so many would seriously disrupt operations.

One of the major cash seizures came in January 2007 when then-Hidalgo County sheriff's Deputy Emmanuel Sanchez was pulled over in Georgia with a pickup truck full of heavy equipment.

The Mission man allegedly showed his badge hoping to end the stop, but officers found $950,000 in cash hidden in the truck.

Sanchez, 48, is no longer a deputy.

He faces three charges related to money laundering and drug possession.
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Posted by: Yep Location: Killeen on Oct 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Wow, not often I agree with Heart of Texas and still dont understand the "back to the Future" thing, but he (she?) is absolutely cor-rect!
Posted by: Heart-Of-Texas Location: Waco on Oct 30, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Two Wrongs,, or 'more', Don't make it right,,,, Sorry!!!!! ( Cut their hands off,when they get caught). Then it 'might' stop the drugs?? Back-To-The-Future!!!
Posted by: Anonymous1 Location: Waco on Oct 30, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Although I do slightly agree with you Tomas...the law is the law. These people were busted because not only were they smuggling; they were also money laundering, bad cops involved, and selling hard drugs that eventually get back to the youth of this country. I completely agree that marijuana should be legalized...it is a cash crop that helps millions of people everyday...but until that day comes we need to keep it off the streets and away from people that bring these drugs into the schools and profit off our kids. I understand using marijuana, I dont know why it is illegal but the day will never come if violent crimes are commited with drugs involved.
Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Oct 30, 2008 at 09:21 AM
But it IS illegal and so thanks to those that got these drug using criminals off the streets.
Posted by: anon Location: central texas on Oct 30, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Then what? legalize cocaine and crack too! It's illegal for a reason.
Posted by: Marlin Location: Texas on Oct 30, 2008 at 08:58 AM
I agree with Tomas, and I do not do drugs or even drink. Silly that I have to put that in writing since it isn't anyone's business except mine and my family's! However, here's the truth. Drug use is stupid, but until the anti-drug laws came into being there was NO LAW that said you can't be STUPID! That's the way it should be now. I know it won't be though because of MONEY. Follow me here.... 1) There are huge amounts of money from the federal government to state and local law enforcement, who wants to lose that? 2) There are huge amounts of money in Drug Enforcement confiscation laws (ie cars, homes, boats, planes, ect.) who wants to lose all that? 3) How many Guards, LEOs, lawyers, and judges would be put out of work if drugs were legal, and no one wants to be on the soup line either. 4) And most IMPORTANTLY, how much freedom is now controlled by the government? How much loss of freedom has happened to "fight drugs", how many rights have been thrown out? Think about it! I do.
Posted by: dude Location: texas on Oct 30, 2008 at 08:23 AM
legalize pot, its better for the comunity than alchohol. have you ever heard of anyone smoking pot and then going on a violent rampage, no you havent. when someone smokes weed and drives a car,(not a good thing) they tend to drive very slow, alhohol on the other hand makes you violent and drive like a maniac.
Posted by: Tony Location: Waco on Oct 30, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Tomas, very good point and I do see the positives. I do have one question though...how stoned is too stoned to operate a motor vehicle?
Posted by: Tomas Location: Waco on Oct 29, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Wow 22 million dollars worth of drugs huh? Although I do not support the use of Cocaine and other hard-core Drugs, If the legalization of Marijuana were to happened today, then wouldn't you think that kind of money would be useful in our economy now? We could regulate it and tax it, just like they do in amsterdam. Marijuana is the #1 cash crop, whether you accept it or not. Thousands if not millions of our citizens go overseas every year to amsterdam and other countries to spend money on weed, they could be helping our own economy smoking it here. Its time we legalize this precious herb, because its causng more harm than good keeping it illegal. Now, as far as the people in this ring are concerned, if they were not selling coke then I would have not considered them criminals, they were helping the citizens of this country in my opinion. Peace United States, thats what weed would bring to this country. (ps Im not a hippie, this is real talk)
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