MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — Federal authorities say they've arrested the second ranking officer of a South Texas sheriff's office who is tied to an embattled drug-fighting unit. Hidalgo County sheriff's Commander Jose "Joe" Padilla was arrested early Tuesday on federal charges of money laundering and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Nina Pruneda The now-defunct Panama Unit is the target of a broad federal investigation in which nine law enforcement officers have been convicted of conspiring with drug traffickers to steal drugs from rival gangs and resell the narcotics.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 3 days ago.
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