Pubdate: Fri, 23 Mar 2001
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Houston Chronicle
Contact:  Viewpoints Editor, P.O. Box 4260 Houston, Texas 77210-4260
Fax: (713) 220-3575
Website: http://www.chron.com/
Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html
Author: John W. Gonzalez

8 OFFICERS NAILED IN DRUG STING

San Antonio Chief Stunned By Charges

SAN ANTONIO -- Eight policemen -- four of them in uniform and on duty -- 
were arrested on federal drug-related charges Thursday in this city's worst 
police corruption scandal in 20 years.

The officers are accused of providing protection and delivery services to a 
cocaine-trafficking enterprise that turned out to be a long-running FBI 
undercover operation.

A sheriff's deputy, a reserve constable and two civilians, including the 
nephew of one of the policemen, were nabbed on related charges.

Suspects performed some of the illicit services while armed and on patrol, 
said FBI special agent Roderick L. Beverly.

"They were involved in a real drug deal," he said. "They were carrying real 
guns that were loaded with real bullets."

When first told of the undercover findings, Police Chief Al Philippus said, 
"I felt like I was kicked in the stomach."

Culminating an undercover FBI probe that began in 1997, a police sergeant 
and seven patrolmen were placed behind bars by colleagues, who said the 
suspects had broken their pledges to uphold the law.

An FBI official said the investigation was launched after the agency 
received information that some police officers were providing protection to 
drug traffickers and that some were drug users.

The officers, who sometimes offered helpful inside information to the bogus 
drug ring, were paid varying sums of money per transaction on numerous 
documented occasions, officials said.

"We rented badges and guns" during the undercover operation, said U.S. 
Attorney Bill Blagg, adding that the officers face possible life sentences 
if convicted of helping the drug ring move its fake shipments.

Though no actual drugs were involved, Blagg said, the suspects engaged in 
"extremely dangerous" conduct by providing the protection services while 
armed with their service revolvers.

San Antonio's police chief learned last week that the FBI probe was about 
to yield sealed federal indictments. Philippus said it was the department's 
worst scandal since 1980, when a similar number of officers was involved in 
a similar racket.

"We are sickened and shocked by the inexcusable actions of these officers," 
the police chief said.

"Collectively and individually, if proven guilty they have betrayed the 
honor of every San Antonio police officer who wears this uniform, every law 
enforcement officer in his nation, but mostly to the community that they 
swore to serve and protect."

Hit hardest, with an 11-count indictment, was 36-year-old patrol supervisor 
Sgt. Conrad Fragozo Jr. He is accused of drug conspiracy, carrying a 
firearm in a drug offense and eight counts of attempting to distribute 
cocaine. If convicted he could be imprisoned for 20 years to life.

Also charged were patrol officers Patrick Bowron, 27; Peter Saenz, 31; 
Arthur Gutierrez Jr., 38; Lawrence Bustos, 37; Manuel Cedillo Jr., 35; 
Alfred Valdes, 28; and David Anthony Morales, 39, police said. Each faces 
from 10 years to life imprisonment. All were placed on unpaid 
administrative leave.

Deputy Sheriff Richard Rowlett Buchanan, 44, was charged with the theft of 
public funds, while reserve Constable Gilbert Andrade Jr. was indicted on a 
cocaine distribution count, authorities said.

Arrested civilians were Edward Fragozo, 37, nephew of Sgt. Fragozo, and 
Albert Mata, 39. Fragozo is charged with conspiracy and cocaine 
distribution; Mata faces two cocaine distribution counts.
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