Three Arizona Cops Arrested for Human, Drug Smuggling
Deputies of “America’s toughest sheriff” busted in international smuggling ring.
Three cops under the command of “America’s toughest sheriff,” including a deputy in the human smuggling unit, have been arrested in Arizona and charged with trafficking in humans and drugs.
Deputy Alfredo Navarrette and two female prison guards were arrested following a year-long sting that netted nine other people in a suspected criminal ring.
“Unfortunately we had a deputy and two officers that became involved in an international drug and illegal immigration operation,” Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the controversial head of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, told ABCNews.com.
Arpaio bills himself as “America’s toughest sheriff” for his no nonsense handling of inmates and for his zero tolerance of illegal immigrants.
Navarrette, 37, who was allegedly caught with two illegal immigrants and $200,000 worth of heroin in his home at the time of his arrest, is accused of feeding a drug ring confidential police information and also of operating a separate human smuggling ring.
One of the prison guards, Marcella Hernandez, is eight-months pregnant with the child of Francisco Arce-Torre, the heroin ring’s alleged “kingpin” and a member of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel, said Arpaio.
Both Hernandez, 28, and Navarrette had received training and been certified by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
“America’s Toughest Sheriff” Finds Three Deputies Allegedly Helping Smugglers
Navarrette had spent nearly a decade working in the human smuggling unit, a division close to the heart of Sheriff Arpaio, who has made capturing illegal immigrants a cornerstone of his administration.
Hernandez most recently worked at the county’s largest jail, where she was in charge of the women’s chain gang. She had previously worked at “Tent City,” the controversial makeshift jail devised by Arpaio to hold illegal immigrants.
At the time of Hernandez’s arrest, Arpaio said, she reporting for duty and was carrying $16,000 in her purse.
All three suspects, Navarrette, Hernandez and corrections officer Sylvia Najera were booked on felony trafficking charges.
Navarrette “talked at the time of his arrest,” said Arpaio, and admitted that he delivered confidential information to the ring.
“This deputy was releasing information to the bad guys,” Arpaio said, “which places my deputy sheriffs and volunteer posse in danger when enforcing illegal immigration and drug trafficking laws.”
Arpaio said his office received a tip a year ago and initiated an investigation. In that time Navarrette was followed as he made several trips to California and delivered illegal immigrants and heroin.
Navarrette was arraigned in court Tuesday on charges that included human smuggling, money laundering, controlling an illegal enterprise and conspiracy, and is being held on $1 million cash bond.
Hernandez was charged with transporting drugs and money laundering and was ordered held on $2 million bond.
Najera was charged with money laundering and controlling a criminal enterprise, but bail was not immediately set.
None of the arrested officers have entered pleas or obtained legal counsel.
The Secret Police Are Here
Trump is losing on policy and the law. But he’s winning on power.
1. Masked Men
Dan Goldman represents the 10th Congressional District of New York. Before he entered Congress he was an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. He has spent most of his professional life working hand-in-hand with law enforcement. He’s not a show-pony or an activist. He’s a law-and-order guy.
Three days ago he spoke to the media about his interactions with agents purporting to represent the Department of Homeland Security. You can watch his no-nonsense speech here, but I’m going to give you a transcript just in case:
Goldman:
Let me focus on some of the interactions I had with the ICE agents. I was a federal prosecutor for ten years. . . . I worked with Department of Homeland Security, I worked with ICE agents, I worked with Homeland Security’s investigations. I have never seen any plainclothes officer wearing a mask. And I asked them, “Why are you wearing a mask?”
One person told me, “Because it’s cold.”
I asked him if he would testify to that under oath. And he walked away and wouldn’t respond to me.
Another person admitted that they’re wearing masks so that they are not caught on video.
And my question to them is: If what you are doing is legitimate, is lawful, is totally above-board, why do you need to cover your face?
Law enforcement officers do not cover their face.
And in fact the Trump administration is cracking down on universities for allowing protesters to wear masks.
So apparently it is not okay to wear a mask if you are protesting the government. But it is okay if you are the government to wear masks in order to shield your face from the public.
The Secret Police Are Here
Trump is losing on policy and the law. But he’s winning on power.
1. Masked Men
Dan Goldman represents the 10th Congressional District of New York. Before he entered Congress he was an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. He has spent most of his professional life working hand-in-hand with law enforcement. He’s not a show-pony or an activist. He’s a law-and-order guy.
Three days ago he spoke to the media about his interactions with agents purporting to represent the Department of Homeland Security. You can watch his no-nonsense speech here, but I’m going to give you a transcript just in case:
Goldman:
Let me focus on some of the interactions I had with the ICE agents. I was a federal prosecutor for ten years. . . . I worked with Department of Homeland Security, I worked with ICE agents, I worked with Homeland Security’s investigations. I have never seen any plainclothes officer wearing a mask. And I asked them, “Why are you wearing a mask?”
One person told me, “Because it’s cold.”
I asked him if he would testify to that under oath. And he walked away and wouldn’t respond to me.
Another person admitted that they’re wearing masks so that they are not caught on video.
And my question to them is: If what you are doing is legitimate, is lawful, is totally above-board, why do you need to cover your face?
Law enforcement officers do not cover their face.
And in fact the Trump administration is cracking down on universities for allowing protesters to wear masks.
So apparently it is not okay to wear a mask if you are protesting the government. But it is okay if you are the government to wear masks in order to shield your face from the public.
