Pubdate: Thu, 02 Feb 2006 Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ) Copyright: 2006 Pulitzer Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23 MEXICAN FEDERAL COP INDICTED IN TUCSON ON MARIJUANA COUNTS A Mexican federal police officer was indicted on drug-trafficking charges in Tucson, the Justice Department said Wednesday. Ruben Rochin-Gutierrez of Navojoa, Sonora, made his initial appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Marshall after being arrested Tuesday. Before the arrest, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Nov. 16 on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute about 9,500 pounds of marijuana and other charges, a Justice Department news release said. The alleged criminal activity is believed to have taken place from an unknown date until last Nov. 16 in Tucson, Nogales, Ariz., and elsewhere, according to the news release. The indictment alleges that on April 17, 2003, Rochin-Gutierrez, 39, possessed with an intent to distribute about 2,969 pounds of marijuana. It also states that on Dec. 16, 2004, he possessed with the intent to distribute 3,520 pounds of marijuana. Rochin-Gutierrez has a detention hearing and arraignment set for Friday, the news release states. Convictions on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) or more of marijuana, and on possession with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, a $4 million fine, or both. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman