Pubdate: Thu, 31 May 2001
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384
Author: Maro Robbins

JAILED COPS MISS CHANCE TO GO HOME

It was federal bureaucracy as much as cell bars that kept at least one 
police officer in jail Wednesday, a day after a judge ordered him and a 
second officer released on bond.

San Antonio Police Sgt. Conrad Fragozo Jr. and his family had the money 
ready -- a $10,000 deposit on a $100,000 bond.

But the Marshals Service, which is responsible for detaining federal 
defendants while they await trial, said it had no one available to take 
Fragozo from his holding cell at Wilson County Jail to a courtroom in San 
Antonio.

The second accused officer, Patrick Bowron, faced an additional obstacle. 
His family still needed to raise some of the bond money, said Bowron's 
attorney, "Rusty" Ronald Guyer.

Both men remained in custody while their court appearances were postponed 
until 11 a.m. today.

Authorities allege the pair played key roles in a conspiracy to protect 
individuals who claimed to be cocaine smugglers. Fragozo and Bowron were 
among 12 people arrested in the FBI's lengthy investigation into alleged 
corruption.

The smugglers were undercover FBI agents participating in a roughly 
three-year corruption investigation that snared 10 local law-enforcement 
officers and two civilians, according to federal indictments.

While their co-defendants were released on bond days after their March 22 
arrests, Fragozo and Bowron were held without bail.

U.S. District Judge Edward C. Prado reversed that order a half-hour before 
the courthouse closed Tuesday. It pleased the officers' families and 
attorneys but came as a surprise to the Marshals Service the next morning.

Fragozo's lawyers said they did not fault the marshals.
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