http://www.elpasotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 60326/1001

Reyes asks FBI to look at threats

Jake Rollow
Louie Gilot
Thursday, February 16, 2006

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, has asked the FBI to investigate death threats received by family members of Hudspeth County sheriff's deputies after a standoff last month between U.S. officers and men dressed as Mexican soldiers.

Reyes, in a letter dated Feb. 10, asked FBI Special Agent in Charge Manuel Mora to take "immediate steps to assist in or conduct an investigation of these death threats."

"It is my understanding that the threats were made by members of a drug-trafficking gang in Mexico," Reyes said in the letter.

Andrea Simmons, spokeswoman for the FBI in El Paso, said her office received the letter but has not started an investigation.

"At this time it doesn't appear that the nature of the threats meet the requirements of the statute that we might investigate this under," she said. "It's still open to possibility."

She also said Reyes' letter is the only request the FBI has received to investigate the alleged threats.

Mora visited the Hudspeth County sheriff's office last Thursday as a "courtesy call" on his way to Alpine, Simmons said, but didn't meet with Sheriff Arvin West.

Simmons did not elaborate on which statute could be the basis for the FBI to investigate the threats.

The threats reportedly were made after the Jan. 23 standoff, in which sheriff's deputies pursued drug smugglers to the U.S.- Mexico border near Sierra Blanca. There, the smugglers were joined by armed men dressed in military-style clothing and crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico. Mexican officials have denied the involvement of their military.

The incident sparked a congressional investigation, in which El Paso and Hudspeth County sheriffs testified about the standoff. And Gov. Rick Perry last week responded by initiating Operation Rio Grande, which will put rapid response teams, undercover surveillance, investigative units and regional SWAT teams along the border.

Jake Rollow may be reached at jrollow@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.