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CAMERON COUNTY PRECINCT 1 CONSTABLE PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG
TRAFFICKING
(BROWNSVILLE, Texas) - Cameron County
Precinct 1 Constable Saul Ochoa has pleaded guilty to one count of possession
of marijuana with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle
announced today.
Ochoa pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen to Count 2
of the indictment alleging possession with intent to distribute approximately
10 pounds of marijuana. Three other counts alleged possession of marijuana
with intent to distribute on various dates in May 2008. At this morning’s
hearing, Ochoa admitted to selling 10 pounds of marijuana to a confidential
informant on May 12, 2008, and stipulated to the written factual summary read
in open court outlining the events resulting in the additional three counts
charged:
Port Isabel Police Department (PIPD), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and
FBI observed Ochoa, the elected Constable of Precinct 1 in Cameron County, selling
multiple pound amounts of marijuana to a confidential informant on four different
occasions in May 2008. Each of the sales were recorded by audio and video and
observed through surveillance by law enforcement.
- May 8, 2008 - Ochoa sold approximately five pounds of marijuana he had retrieved from his office to the confidential informant for $700 at Ochoa’s house on in Laguna Vista, Texas, where the informant witnessed Ochoa snort cocaine.
- May 12, 2008 - Ochoa retrieved 10 pounds of marijuana from his office and subsequently sold it to the confidential informant for $1,400. The informant told law enforcement that during his meetings with Ochoa that night, he saw weapons in Ochoa’s squad vehicle. This is the count of conviction.
- May 15, 2008 - Ochoa sold approximately five pounds of marijuana for $900 at Ochoa’s house on Ebony in Laguna Vista, where he was again seen using cocaine. During the meeting, the informant, in Ochoa’s presence, picked up a rifle that was in Ochoa’s living room.
- May 22, 2008 - Ochoa delivered another approximately five pounds of marijuana in the Port Isabel area for $750 . Prior to this sale, a recorded conversation between the informant and Ochoa confirmed the amount would be similar to the prior deal on May 15th.
Prior
to each of these events, both the informant and his vehicle were “frisked” to
determine there was no marijuana on the informant or in his vehicle prior to
Ochoa’s sales. The informant told law enforcement that prior to becoming
an informant, he had purchased approximately 20 pounds of marijuana from Ochoa
on various occasions that are separate and apart from the four indicted counts.
- May 28, 2008 - Ochoa was arrested by members of the PIPD, DEA and FBI. Upon arrest and after being read his Miranda Warnings, Ochoa admitted to making the four sales to the informant, further noting he had a $40-a-day cocaine habit and had been selling marijuana seized as evidence to the informant. Ochoa consented to a search his vehicle and his part of an apartment he was living in on Washington St. in the Port Isabel area.
- Search of Ochoa’s Marked Unit - Three bundles totaling approximately eight pounds of marijuana were found in Ochoa’s marked unit, along with a loaded 9MM Beretta, two shot guns, shot gun ammunition, an M-16 as well as Ochoa’s wallet with a personal use amount of cocaine. Evidence bags were also found that contained a unique evidence control number matching one of the marijuana seizures that was officially reported in the past by the Constable’s Office.
- Search of Washington Street - A digital scale, commonly used to weigh narcotics, a lighter, pipe, two hunting rifles and one brick of marijuana was found along with empty bags containing the same evidence identification number as those in Ochoa’s truck and the evidence locker.
- Search of Precinct 1 - Cocaine residue in a bag and in Ochoa’s desk were found in Ochoa’s personal office, along with the actual evidence locker and other evidence bags containing the same unique evidence control number as found in other searches detailed above were also found. All Deputies were interviewed and told law enforcement Ochoa was the only person with a key to his office and to the evidence locker. Deputy statements and some office paperwork established the evidence locker was supposed to have approximately 190 pounds of marijuana from two recorded seizures. The FBI took custody of the drug evidence and can only account for 15 pounds of marijuana remaining from these two seizures.
- Search of Ebony St. - Approximately one pound of marijuana was found in Ochoa’s master bedroom along with marihuana residue found in his master bedroom closet. A black bag with more empty plastic bags containing the same evidence identification number as the other searches, ammunition, and a bullet-proof vest with marijuana residue on it was also recovered.
Ochoa took office in January 2005. He was arrested Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at
the Port Isabel Police Department by agents of the DEA, FBI and officers of the
PIPD, who jointly investigated the case. Ochoa faces a maximum punishment of
five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. Sentencing is scheduled
for Sept. 22, 2008, before Judge Hanen. He remains in federal custody.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody Young. |
