Pubdate: Mon, 23 Oct 2006
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Copyright: 2006 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384

DISPATCHER ACCUSED OF WARNING SUSPECT

A Bexar County Sheriff's Department 911 dispatcher supervisor used 
her position to look up the criminal histories of people in 
connection with a marijuana-smuggling conspiracy she's accused of 
participating in and to warn another suspect when law officers were 
nearby, according to a court affidavit filed Monday.

The sheriff's office was unaware of the alleged activity by Barbara 
Villarreal, a 14-year-employee who was arrested Saturday in an 
undercover federal sting, according to Deputy Chief Andy Lozano.

Arrested by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 
Villarreal learned Monday that she's facing five to 40 years in 
prison on each of the two charges: conspiracy to possess with intent 
to distribute marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Villarreal, 44; her boyfriend, Rogelio Cuevas, 41; and their 
Elmendorf neighbor Santos Martinez, 56; are accused of taking 
delivery of almost 800 pounds of marijuana supplied by undercover agents.

The drugs were delivered in an 18-wheeler Saturday to a restaurant 
operated by Villarreal and Cuevas at Interstate 37 and South Loop 
1604, according to a criminal complaint affidavit.

Villarreal, who has worked for the county since November 1992, was 
released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. Cuevas was granted release on 
$25,000 bond, and Martinez was ordered held without bond pending a 
bail hearing within the next two weeks.

"Currently, she's on paid leave for 10 days," Lozano said of 
Villarreal. After that, "we will start the procedure for termination."

The investigation by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task 
force, which consists of state, local and federal agents, initially 
targeted Martinez over allegations that his home was used as a stash 
house, according to a criminal complaint affidavit. An undercover 
agent posed as a drug supplier, and authorities say Martinez later 
introduced agents to Cuevas and Villarreal.

The affidavit said the group agreed to recruit drivers, that an 
undercover officer supplied some potential recruits and that 
Villarreal would check their records on the county computers.

The affidavit also alleges Villarreal would monitor police radio 
traffic and warn Martinez when law enforcement was in the area of the 
stash house.

Lozano said using county computers to search the National Crime 
Information Center -- a database maintained by the FBI -- for 
unofficial police business is illegal, a charge Villarreal is not facing.
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