Thread: El Paso - BP agent arrested

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=5430898

09.19.06
Veteran BP agent arrested, allegedly helped move drugs through checkpoint

Sep 20, 2006 01:07 PM
Veteran BP agent arrested, allegedly helped move drugs through checkpoint
Arturo Arzate, Jr.
Arturo Arzate, Jr.
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EL PASO, Tx. - A veteran Border Patrol agent is arrested for allegedly accepting big bucks to allow drugs through his checkpoint.

According to a criminal complaint filed early Monday, the FBI recorded Arturo Arzate, Jr. accepting nearly $16,000 for his role in allowing marijuana and cocaine to pass through his checkpoint without inspection.

A spokesman for the Border Patrol's El Paso sector says Mr. Arzate has been with the agency for 21 years.

The FBI tells ABC-7 that Mr. Arzate was officially charged Monday, 3 days after being taken into federal custody. This investigation got underway after someone began to leak information to the FBI in November of 2005.

Mr. Arzate was stationed at the checkpoint located on US Highway 62 -180 in El Paso County, just east of Hueco Tanks.

Arzate is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Bribery of a Public Official.

The complaint states that in April of 2006, Arzate allegedly allowed a cooperating witness to smuggle 200-pounds of marijuana through his checkpoint.

According to the documents obtained by the ABC-7 I-Team, for his work Mr. Arzate received $50 for every pound smuggled, leading to a $10,000 payday.

Later that same month, he met with that same witness and an undercover detective and agreed to allow 6 kilograms of cocaine through his checkpoint. His alleged payment for this load was $1000 per kilo. After the load was allowed through, he was paid $6,000.

Last Thursday Mr. Arzate allegedly offered to act as a broker to obtain a kilogram of cocaine for $13,500.

A spokesman for Border Patrol adds that Mr. Arzate is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation.

In a statement sent to ABC-7, Doug Mosier said, "any agent that violates the trust of the citizens they swore to protect will be held accountable."

Additionally, the ABC-7 I-Team has also learned this hasn't been the first arrest for Mr. Arzate, Jr. According to court records in 1995 he was arrested for family violence, however the case was later dismissed in 1996.

Then in 2004 Arzate was arrested for driving while intoxicated, but the arresting officer was no longer working for the department at the time of his hearing so that case was also dismissed.

Now, this guy deserves 20 years.