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• Some Drug Cases to be Dismissed after Guilty Pleas in Panama Unit Case Play Video

  May 31, 2013 1:05 PM

  EDINBURG - Dozens of criminal cases are being tossed out of court after this week's guilty pleas in the Panama Unit corruption investigation. Former law enforcement officers Jonathan Treviño, Salvador Arguello, Claudio Mata and Eric Alcantar pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy. Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene... more »

• Hidalgo County Sheriff Vows to Fight Corruption Play Video

  May 29, 2013 8:09 PM

  EDINBURG - Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino on Wednesday reacted to the guilty pleas entered by his son, three of his former deputies and a former Mission police officer. The men pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges. The men admitted in federal court that they took drug loads from... more »

• Panama Unit Members Could Face Life in Prison Play Video

  May 29, 2013 5:11 PM

  McALLEN - Five members of a former drug task force could face up to life in prison after pleading guilty to drug conspiracy charges. A federal judge on Wednesday accepted the guilty pleas from five of the nine members of the former drug interdiction taskforce known as the Panama... more »

• Couple Files Suit against Mission PD, Sheriff's Office Play Video

  May 29, 2013 4:28 PM

  McALLEN - A couple on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the Mission Police Department and the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Department in connection with a raid by the former drug interdiction taskforce known as the Panama Unit. Jose and Maria Guadalupe Perez said members of the now-defunct unit illegally raided... more »

• 5 Defendants in Panama Unit Case Reach Plea Agreement Play Video

  May 29, 2013 10:00 AM

  MCALLEN - Five of the defendants in the Panama Unit drug conspiracy case have reached a plea agreement. The following defendants pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge: Jonathan Trevino Salvador Arguello Claudio Mata Eric Alcantar The drug conspiracy charge was part of... more »

• 9 Defendants in Panama Unit Case Headed Back to Court Play Video

  May 29, 2013 8:03 AM

  MCALLEN - Nine of the 12 suspects in a drug conspiracy are scheduled to appear in court today. The case involves the now-defunct drug task force known as the Panama Unit. Six of the suspects returning to court today are former Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies. Three others are suspected... more »

• 9 in Panama Unit Case Scheduled for Re-Arraignment Play Video

  May 28, 2013 1:07 PM

  MCALLEN - Nine of 12 co-defendants involved in the Panama Unit case are getting ready for court hearings tomorrow. Court documents show they're set for re-arraignment. The Panama Unit is the name of a now-defunct drug task force. Six ex-Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies and three suspected drug traffickers are... more »

• Suspect in Panama Unit Case Granted Bond Play Video

  May 1, 2013 1:01 PM

  MCALLEN - A man accused of bribing several Hidalgo County lawmen will soon be out of jail. Fernando Guerra Jr., along with his father, is facing charges for allegedly paying the lawmen to protect and steal drug loads. The father and son were named with 10 other people in... more »

• Former Panama Unit Members Plead Not Guilty Play Video

  April 12, 2013 4:00 PM

  McALLEN - The members of a former drug interdiction unit pleaded not guilty to drug conspiracy charges. Seven of the nine former members of Hidalgo County's disbanded Panama Unit entered the pleas in a federal court Friday in McAllen. The former lawmen are accused in a corruption case.... more »

• Retired Deputy Granted Bond Play Video

  March 27, 2013 12:44 PM

  MCALLEN - A federal judge placed a retired sheriff's deputy under house arrest. J.P. Flores was granted bond at one of his first hearings this morning. Prosecutors accuse Flores of misusing his former position as the head of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Crime Stoppers program. He allegedly worked with... more »

• Latest Panama Unit Defendant in Court Play Video

  March 22, 2013 12:41 PM

  MCALLEN - A retired Hidalgo County sheriff's sergeant faced a judge today in connection with the Panama Unit drug conspiracy. James Phil Flores remains in custody. He was formerly part of the sheriff department's Crime Stoppers program. A newly released criminal complaint accuses Flores of using his position... more »

• Retired Sheriff's Sergeant Linked to Panama Unit Case Play Video

  March 22, 2013 9:16 AM

  MCALLEN - A retired Hidalgo County sheriff's sergeant is now linked to the Panama Unit drug conspiracy. James Phil Flores headed up the Crime Stoppers tips line at the sheriff's office. He retired in December, after 28 years of work. That's the same time several of his colleagues who... more »

• Convicted Felon Named in Panama Unit Indictment Play Video

  March 20, 2013 1:05 PM

  MCALLEN - A convicted felon was added to the list of defendants in the Panama Unit case. The Panama Unit is a now-defunct drug task force in Hidalgo County. Seven former members are accused of taking bribes and escorting drug loads. Alvaro Dehoyos is the 10th defendant in the... more »

• Bond Set for Trio Added to Panama Unit Case Play Video

  March 14, 2013 1:24 PM

  MCALLEN - Most of the members of a now-defunct drug taskforce were in federal court today. A judge set bond for former Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies Salvador Arguello, Claudio Mata and Eric Alcantar. They may soon be out on a $100,000 bond. The trio was added to an... more »

• Ex-Deputies to Remain in Jail Until Bond Hearings Play Video

  March 8, 2013 12:04 PM

  MCALLEN - The three latest suspects added to the Panama Unit case will be spending the weekend in jail. Former Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies Salvador Arguello, Claudio Mata and Eric Alcantar all made an initial court appearance this morning. Arguello asked for the court to appoint an attorney because... more »

• Panama Unit Case Grows Play Video

  March 6, 2013 7:46 PM

  McALLEN - A superseding indictment was handed down Wednesday in a case involving former Rio Grande Valley lawmen and alleged drug smugglers. A grand jury indicted three more ex-Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies in connection with the now-disbanded Panama Unit drug taskforce case. Three others were also named in Wednesday's... more »

• More Charged in Connection with Panama Unit Case Play Video

  March 6, 2013 4:28 PM

  MCALLEN - A grand jury handed down an indictment, which charges three more ex-Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies in connection with the Panama Unit case. Salvador Joel Arguello, Claudio Alberto Mata, and Eric Michael Alcantar were charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms... more »

• More Delays in Panama Unit Case Play Video

  March 1, 2013 1:03 PM

  MCALLEN - More delays were announced in the trial for four ex-members of a drug taskforce unit. Jonathan Trevino, Alexis Espinoza and Gerardo Duran walked out of court free on bond. The fourth defendant, Fabian Rodriguez, is behind bars, after a judge revoked his bond two weeks ago. ... more »

• Ex-Panama Unit Member to Remain in Jail Play Video

  February 22, 2013 1:41 PM

  MCALLEN - A former member of the now-disbanded drug taskforce will stay in jail. An FBI agent told a judge Fabian Rodriguez directly contacted Gerardo Duran, a co-defendant in the case. This is the second violation of the terms of his bond. Last week, a judge revoked Rodriguez's... more »

• No Leniency for Former Panama Unit Member Play Video

  February 14, 2013 9:16 PM

  McALLEN - A federal judge on Thursday said he will not make any exceptions for the members of the now-disbanded Panama Unit. The judge revoked the bond for one of the four former lawmen arrested after an investigation into wrongdoing by members of the unit. A grand jury... more »

• Bond Revoked for Ex-Panama Unit Member Play Video

  February 14, 2013 12:37 PM

  MCALLEN - A former narcotics officer is heading to jail, after his bond was revoked. Fabian Rodriguez is one of four members of the now-defunct Panama Unit accused of helping escort drug loads. A federal judge ruled Rodriguez violated a condition of release by indirectly sending a message to... more »

• Trial Date Set for Former Lawmen Play Video

  January 18, 2013 12:55 PM

  McALLEN - A trial date has been set for four former lawmen accused of accepting bribes to escort drug loads. Fabian Rodriguez, Johathan Trevino, Alexis Espinoza and Gerardo Mendoza-Duran will be in court on March 1 for a pre-trial hearing. Jury selection will happen on March 5. A... more »

• Panama Unit Members Indicted Play Video

  January 9, 2013 4:25 PM

  McALLEN - A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted four former members of Hidalgo County's now-disbanded Panama Unit. The grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Jonathan Trevino, Alexis Rigoberto Espinoza, Fabian Rodriguez and Gerardo Mendoza-Duran. The indictment includes one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent... more »

• Sheriff Closing Drug Taskforce Involved in Federal Investigation Play Video

  January 7, 2013 1:10 PM

  EDINBURG - Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino confirmed he's closing the Panama Unit. The drug taskforce is now the target of a federal investigation. The Panama Unit made headlines in November, when four of its members were arrested on federal drug charges. The four were accused of escorting drug... more »

• 2 Ex-Officers to be Released on Bond Play Video

  December 17, 2012 1:04 PM

  MCALLEN - Two former law enforcement officers accused of taking bribes are set to be released on bond today. A total of four men are accused of providing escorts for drug loads in exchange for money. The suspects were members of the Hidalgo County drug task force called the... more »

• Sheriff: 5 Deputies Who Resigned Part of Investigation Play Video

  December 17, 2012 9:55 AM

  EDINBUG - Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said he's asked for and received the resignation of five deputies. The deputies were part of a drug task force known as the Panama Unit. The sheriff said the five deputies who resigned are part of an investigation that has already led... more »

• Lawmen Implicated in Drug Case were Part of Special Unit Play Video

  December 13, 2012 5:47 PM

  EDINBURG - Four Rio Grande Valley lawmen charged in a drug conspiracy case were members of a special drug team dubbed the Panama Unit. Hidalgo County officials said the task force was created to target drug trafficking. The unit is comprised of Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies and Mission police... more »