Hidalgo County sheriff fires high-ranking commander accused of drug trafficking

Federal agents have arrested Jose Padilla, a member of the Hidalgo County sheriff's command staff who also helped raise campaign donations for his boss. Federal agents have arrested Jose Padilla, a member of the Hidalgo County sheriff's command staff who also helped raise campaign donations for his boss. Photo: McAllen Monitor Photo: McAllen Monitor Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Hidalgo County sheriff fires high-ranking commander accused of drug trafficking 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — With one of his top commanders facing federal charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said Friday he's firing the senior officer and insisted the public still can trust the integrity of the Sheriff's Office — and the man who leads it.

“There's no sheriff, there's no chief, no law enforcement CEO in the United States or the state of Texas who would tolerate or ignore something like this,” said Treviño, whose department has been scandalized by a wide-ranging federal investigation of corrupt law enforcement officers on the Texas border who took bribes from drug traffickers.

“Don't judge my leadership on the actions of a few who decided that they want to take the easy route and opted to involve themselves in corrupt activities,” Treviño said.

The federal investigation has ensnared members of the “Panama Unit,” an anti-narcotics task force between the Sheriff's Office and the Mission Police Department.

The defendants included the sheriff's son, Jonathan Treviño, who was a Mission police investigator. All but one of the defendants admitted to collaborating with traffickers.

This week, federal agents arrested Jose Padilla, a member of Treviño's command staff who also helped raise campaign donations for the sheriff.

A federal indictment alleges Padilla worked with Tomas “El Gallo” Gonzalez, 36, a trafficking suspect from Weslaco.

A message left with Padilla's lawyer wasn't returned Friday.

Padilla's name came up during the trial last summer of a former Hidalgo County deputy. During that trial, former Deputy James Phil “J.P.” Flores said Padilla pressured deputies to contribute money to the sheriff's re-election campaign.

Flores told jurors that the pressure caused him to fall under the sway of a Rio Grande Valley drug trafficker.

Padilla, 53, was called to the stand as a witness in that case. But he invoked his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination, raising questions about why a top sheriff's official would be worried about incriminating himself.

Treviño had refused to fire or suspend Padilla, raising even more questions from critics who asked why the sheriff hadn't caught any signs of corruption in his own department.

On Friday, the sheriff said he couldn't fire Padilla because he faced no criminal charges at the time. That situation changed this week after agents arrested Padilla and took him into federal custody.

Padilla's duties at the sheriff's office included overseeing deputies who serve court papers. On Thursday, he was served with a termination letter notifying him of his dismissal, Treviño said.

“If they are formally charged with a crime, that on face value is a violation of our internal policies,” Treviño said. “That is sufficient for termination.”

With Padilla's arrest, Treviño said he realizes some might wonder if he was in on the drug scheme. The sheriff said he welcomes the scrutiny.

“In no way would Padilla or any member of my staff ever come up to me and say, 'Sheriff, I've done some bad stuff and I want you to join me,'” Treviño said. “Look at me any way you want, you will see there's absolutely nothing.”

jtedesco@express-news.net