Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jun 2011
Source: Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ)
Copyright: 2011 Arizona Daily Star
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Author: Fernanda Echavarri, Arizona Daily Star

2 FORMER PIMA COUNTY DEPUTIES INDICTED ON THEFT, DRUG CHARGES

Two former deputies with the Pima County Sheriff's Department were
indicted on federal charges of stealing drugs from a storage facility
and money during traffic stops, officials said.

Miguel Arvizu and Francisco J. Jimenez Jr. were indicted in early May
but the indictment was kept sealed until Friday, said Robert Sherwood,
a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona.

Jimenez was on duty and in uniform in his patrol car when he took
about $8,000 during two traffic stops in June and October 2010, the
indictment says. Arvizu is accused of setting up those traffic stops.

In November 2010 Jimenez provided "security" in his patrol car while
co-conspirators stole controlled substances and drug money from a
storage facility in Green Valley, Sherwood said in the news release.
FBI agents in Tucson conducted the investigation.

Arvizu is accused of posing as a sheriff's deputy and convincing
co-conspirators he could help steal money from drug-trafficking
organizations, according to the indictment.

The two would share the stolen cash, the news release
said.

Arvizu was charged with eight counts, including theft of government
money and property, as well as attempted distribution of marijuana and
cocaine.

Jimenez was charged with three counts of theft of government money and
with attempted possession with the intent to distribute more than 220
pounds of marijuana, the news release says.

Arvizu was hired by the Sheriff's Department in June 2003 and resigned
as a deputy in April 2010, said Deputy Jason Ogan, a department
spokesman. Arvizu was not employed by the department when the
incidents took place. Jimenez was hired June 2006 and resigned March
17, Ogan said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.