Pubdate: Fri, 31 Jan 2003
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Section: Metro and State
Copyright: 2003 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384
Author: Maro Robbins, San Antonio Express-News

EX-OFFICER SENTENCED IN COCAINE CASE

A drug task force investigator convicted of peddling cocaine was sentenced 
Thursday to almost three years in prison even as the former law officer 
insisted that an informant set him up.

Xavier Villarreal, 52, was affiliated with the Live Oak County Sheriff's 
Department and assigned to the Central South Texas Narcotics Task Force in 
George West when an informant accused him of selling cocaine in 2001.

The FBI outfitted the informant, Pearsall bondsman Lupe Morales, with a 
hidden microphone and taped him twice arranging to purchase cocaine from 
Villarreal, who griped about being so strapped for cash that he pawned his 
pistol.

Morales was a key witness at the trial.

A jury convicted Villarreal in October despite the former law officer's 
claim that he had been working undercover to catch the bondsman dealing 
narcotics.

Standing before U.S. District Judge Edward C. Prado on Thursday, Villarreal 
remained adamant that he was convicted for simply doing his job.

"No one seemed to have time, so I took it upon myself to go after this 
guy," Villarreal told the judge.

Villarreal cast the case as the FBI's effort to protect its informant. He 
also insisted that the powder he delivered to Morales contained relatively 
tiny amounts of cocaine - enough only to satisfy a field test. Most of it 
consisted of crushed caffeine pills and aspirin, according to lab reports 
presented by the defense.

Prado said he was bound by the jury verdict and sentenced Villarreal to two 
years, nine months behind bars. Under sentencing guidelines, that was the 
minimum he could receive. He could have been sentenced to as much as three 
years and five months.

Outside the courtroom, Villarreal blamed his lawyer for an inadequate defense.

At trial, the defense offered scant proof that the drug sale fit into a 
legitimate investigation, while federal agents countered with taped 
discussions and receipts for the money they gave Morales to buy the cocaine.
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