Public Officials Involved? People on the take?

[lfparent]

Looks like DA Villalobos is going to dig deep to see who was on the take.

It's about time.

[Babaloo]

Wow running for a position in the city to running an illegal gambling place
whats next?

[TEAM FALCON]

It's going to be a shame if any public officials were on the take.

[lfparent]

Well Moderator, the FBI are being called in.

It looks like the owners of that casino are singing like birds.

Did you see the article in the Brownsville Herald today? www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_more.php?id=68869_0_10_0_C

The FBI is coming and going to air out a lot of dirty laundry.

I wonder who's on the list....I wonder how they are sleeping at night........I would be shiatting bricks.

[lilbirdie]

Why were these gambling establishments allowed to operate for approximately one year? We had the same DA in power? Different Sheriff? Did someone look the other way for a year and then decide to do something? These are all questions the FBI should ask not only the owners but the local government officials.

[rocky]

The local police, obviously, should have known about this operation but are not mentioned in the newspaper.

Are they the targets of the investigation?

[lfrgv]

this is a very piculuar habit among this county, i applaud Mr. villalobos and the the DA's office in calling the FEDS in. this action must stop. people wonder why we don't have confidance in our justice system down here. First sherrifs now judges making favors to felons, its dispicable.

I hope they dig deep, i would not mind if they manage to clean house on some of these justices, sheriffs(deputyies), and political supporters.

Yes, I said Political Supporters.
The way see it with these pretty little brown eyes is that these judges were called by a friend a friend with lots of money, maybe related to the Penas money wise, I don't think the penas could have paid off many officials on thier own. You don't set up this type of organiation on your own and call it a family business.
Those same people that paid off local law inforcment like to play on both sides of the line. I would not be supprised if they contribute or were think of contributing any money to the justices reelection campaigns, that would be a good place to start looking for the rotten cheese. Follow the money.
What we should do as a community too try to put a stop to all the corrution in the area, is petition the FBI, Congress, Attourney Generals Office, and the Sec. of State, to palce a Permanent FBI/ATF office in Brownsville. We need it, with our location along the border, drug trafficing being more rampant, and with our long history of corruption with in our own Judicial offices and law enforcment, we desprately need it.

We need help!!!

[lfparent]

ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!

THE CHIEF OF POLICE WAS PROVIDING SECURITY!?!

I JUST SAW IT ON THE NEWS AND HE SAID IT HIMSELF THAT HE STOPPED WHEN HE REALIZED THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS.

HE SAID THAT ON THE NEWS!!!!

THERE WOULD ONLY BE PROBLEMS IF THERE WAS ILLEGAL GAMBLING GOING ON, NOT IF THEY WERE FOLLOWING THE LAW.

I CANT BELIEVE HE SAID THAT.

HE SAID THAT HE STOPPED WHEN HE REALIZED IT THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS.

AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE HE IF HE KNEW OF IMPROPRIETIES HE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE SAID THAT ON TV. IT'S GOING TO COME BACK AND HAUNT HIM.

IT'S TIME TO CONTACT THE CITY COMMISSION TO START THE PROCESS FOR REMOVAL OF THIS CHIEF OF POLICE.

[lfrgv]

I'm getting tired of having to make exuses for my own city. This type of crap has been going on for to long in this little town. I don't think the commision would help either. They have seemed to pick the wrong guy again, and again, and again. We need a chief that was not raised in the valley who has no friends here and is willing to relocate to the city not for its peaceful surrondings, or the lack of paper work(no crimes no paper work),one that has not grown near the border, but for a close proximitty to the island, and great place to raise children.

Is it really that hard to hire an honest Chief, Sheriff, around these areas, give me a break, i've hade enough. Ive lost respect on with our police.

Not only did the Chief now but the officers must have known, you cant be that blind, and if thats thier excuss they should be out of a job just like the Chief. were not stupid, go poke someone elses eyes with those lies. I wont belive you.

What bothers me is the fact that im going to be driving down the road and looking at everone of them wondering if they had some thing to do with the cover up. it may seem unfair at first glance, but if you know somthing fishy is going on and you dont tell anybody about it, then in my book you are just as giluity as those who took the bribe. How convinient they look the other way when it comes to gambling in our city, but to tickets they are quick to write you up. I guess i understand now, whatever brings in the money,RIGHT!

This is Outragous!!!!!!!!

[TEAM FALCON]

Oh Man.

Hey LFparent, I saw the channel 5 video also.

I agree with you lfrgv.


I am very disappointed and disgusted.

I've even seen LFPD giving someone a ticket in front of this casino.

Remember that article in the Los Fresnos News talking about the casinos? It was about 4 -6 months ago. They quoted the LFPD saying that "no criminal activity has been reported at these casinos"

God help our little town.

[lfrgv]

We re going to need a lot of prayers to get us out of this fiasco. i would fire all and start from a clean slate.
I hope we(the city of Los Fresnos) can manage to hire credible people. Mybe we need to reevaluate those on the commision aswell, who new what, was it tax, and if it was then they new what was going on,

Who is on the city commission, when were they elected, and what relationship do they have to this gambaling mess.

[lfparent]

Did you guys read the article in the herald today about Bennie Ochoa and the island casino.

www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_more.php?id=68914_0_10_0_C

Stay tuned!!!

[lfparent]

Where is oldboots???

[lfparent]

It looks like our chief of police as more esplaining to do.

Today's Brownsville Herald Article.

Security firm with ties to police chief, casino under investigation

BY EMMA PEREZ-TREVIÑO
The Brownsville Herald

January 20, 2006 — A county anti-gambling task force is investigating a security company linked to both the Los Fresnos police chief and the operator of a casino that was raided recently.

Public records show that Los Fresnos Police Chief James Harris III owns Coastal Security & Protection in North Brownsville, but Goldmine arcade operator Eduardo Rene Peña claims he owns it as well.

Agents with the anti-gambling task force and the FBI raided Goldmine at 1005 S. Arroyo Blvd. in Los Fresnos on Jan. 6, and arrested Peña, 31, and his wife Veronica B. Peña, 27, both of Los Fresnos, on gambling and unlawful possession of a weapon charges.

Following their arrests, Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos said the task force would attempt to seize the building housing the arcade. Records showed that former McAllen mayor Leo Montalvo of McAllen owns the property.

Villalobos said the task force would investigate two other businesses linked to Peña: the security company and a limousine service.

Villalobos said his office feels the businesses were the result of the gaming operations.

County public records reflect that Harris is the sole owner of the security firm. Harris registered the firm in March 2005.

But, ownership of Coastal Security at 1213 Alton Gloor Blvd. is in dispute.

Peña’s attorney, Michael Young, maintains that Peña owns the security business and had “no comment” when asked Thursday if his client was a silent partner.

Harris isn’t talking and on Wednesday said he fears his comments would be taken out of context, but he declined to forward a written statement. (he should have never given that interview on channel 5)

“The security company is owned and operated by Eddie Peña and does have legitimate and viable contracts to provide security with several entities, both private and public governmental institutions,” Young said.

Terry Vinson of Los Fresnos and Harris are listed as owners/managers of the security firm with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Private Security Board.

Peña’s name does not appear.

“There is only one owner (Harris) as far as the state record, and I’m not the owner. I’m the manager,” Vinson said via telephone from Beaumont where he was working security.

Vinson is a long-time law enforcement officer and has made the rounds in southern Cameron County as police chief and interim police chief in Palm Valley, Indian Lake and Los Fresnos. He also has been a candidate for county sheriff and county judge.

“Harris wants to get rid of it,” Vinson said of the security firm, claiming that Harris is transferring ownership to him. Vinson said the Alton Gloor office was closed this week and is operating the security business from his office in Los Fresnos.

“I never saw or dealt with Peña,” Vinson said, maintaining he has no knowledge that Peña could be a silent partner. “As far as the financing (for the security company), I don’t know anything about the financing.

“I’m trying to get things together and get things straight. There will be no partners in my business,” he said.

The security firm had provided outside security at the Goldmine for a few months, Vinson said.

“I don’t believe any of our guards had seen anything (illegal) out there, and I’m sure Harris would have said something,” he said. “I’m sure you can suspect it, but proving it is another story.”

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[oldboots]

I'm here, I've been out of the loop for a while but I'm back...let me put my nose to this and put it in a historical perspective. More later. oldboots

[TEAM FALCON]

I've heard that the wheels are in motion to remove this chief of police.

A good source is telling me that this scandal is another black eye for our city.

First Dan Reyna, then our old city commission with their poor management, the illegal casinos, the Ex Super, not this chief of police.


Stay tuned. I'm suprised that oldboots hasnt heard.