Wednesday, March 21, 2018

DA BADGES, SOME "HONORARY," PROLIFERATE IN THE COUNTY

By Juan Montoya

The first thing that some local residents thought when Oseil Cardenas Jr., son of Osiel Cardenas, the Gulf Cartel capo serving prison time for drug offenses, thought when the younger Cardenas was arrested with a badge from the Cameron County District Attorney Office was that it belonged to a Ass. DA found dead in Matamoros eight years ago.

The body of Assistant DA Arturo Jose Iniguez of Rancho Viejo, 26, was found March 20, 2011, in his Jeep, with the engine running, not far from the Veterans International Bridge in Matamoros. He was holding a cellphone in his right hand.

A bottle bearing the name of a drug that is used in the veterinary industry was found outside the vehicle. The lid was inside, according to reports.

Villalobos said he didn't know why IƱiguez was in Matamoros and that his family had no knowledge that he had planned to go there.

The death was ruled a suicide although a lot of things made no sense: He had been promoted recently in the DA's Office by then-DA Armando Villalobos to first chair misdemeanor attorney. He first had joined the district attorney’s office in 2007 as a law clerk, while attending law school. He had a two-year-old daughter, and he missed a diner date with his wife and mother that Saturday.

"That's the first thing I thought about," said a local bail bondsman.
"You should check to see if it was the Asst. DA found dead in Matamoros," said a local elected official.

DA Luis Saenz told the newspaper that the badge Cardenas had had been issued to local attorney Ismael Hinojosa.

Saenz said that Hinjosa was representing Cardenas in a petition to acquire a driver's license. He was scheduled to complete serving probation on was sentenced in 2015 to 10 months in federal prison for attempting to smuggle military-grade ammunition into Mexico in January of that year.

He was also to serve three years supervised release after serving the 10 months in federal prison.

According to courthouse sources, it has become a practice for some Asst. DA's to keep their badges when they leave office. In fact, that office has issued numerous "honorary" badges to local residents for their service to victims' rights or child protective activities. Saenz even issued one to former DA PIO Melissa Zamora after she started working for the City of Harlingen.

"There's a lot of badges out there," said the bondsman. "No telling how Cardenas got a hold of that one." 

Hinojosa has refused to answer media inquiries citing lawyer-client privilege.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Same old Brownsville, juan. Why get all bothered, bro? LOL

Anonymous said...

Maybe hinojosa lost it or it was stolen from him
Maybe he gifted it. He prolly had no use for it. If It's just a memento, relic," honorary " badge.

Anonymous said...

Badges? We ain't got no steenkin badges.

Anonymous said...

why would this qualify as attorney client privilege?

Anonymous said...

We here at the court house still think he is working directly with our boss Luis Saenz , at least that is the talk around the water cooler.

Anonymous said...

sumpty smeeels fitchy

Anonymous said...

You don't just go handing out badges sir! Use at least a brain cell this is a completely moronic move! I do not give a DAMN how you state the fact that badges are handed out like candy. Not ACCEPTABLE! NO REASON is a GOOD ONE so STFU!! Obviously you do not take the position you were elected to serve seriously. You sir and anyone else who hands out badges to every Tom, Dick and Harry (Juan, Pepe or Jose) need not hold any position!! This looks very QUESTIONABLE!! Where is the FBI (Famous but Incompetent) Famous words of a chief!

Anonymous said...

Looks like the evil one that tries to destroy people’s lives is doing some shady stuff. Hope the feds are involved.

Anonymous said...

They are involved with this somehow.

Anonymous said...

Who owns the skyy bar anyways...
Huh?!

Anonymous said...

Feds are coming, everybody will pay....

Anonymous said...

I hope the feds that are looking into this case are competent and not CORRUPT and dirty like our infamous DA! Th ALL seeing eye knows what the evil one has done, continues to do and will see to it that justice will be served!! Hopefully swiftly and sooner rather than later!

Anonymous said...

Get Fed's in, where are they !

Anonymous said...

BADGES GET YOU A 50% DISCOUNT OFF FAST FOOD PRICES AT RUDY'S AND POLLO LOCO, PROBABLY FREE DRINKS FOR OZIEL CARDENAS JR. AND OTHER CLOWNS

Anonymous said...

Bike trails, handicap tags, sludge funds, rotten meat, fajita caper, selling inspection permits, finance dept. and NOW DA BADGES!!!


UNBELIEVEABLE!!!

WHERE IS THE F B I???

Anonymous said...

FBI, DEA, NSA, CIA, DHS, FIU, TEXAS RANGERS, INTEGRETY UNITS, ROBERT MUELLER, WE NEED HELP!!!

Bike trails, handicap tags, sludge funds, rotten meat, fajita caper, selling inspection permits and NOW DA BADGES!!!


UNBELIEVEABLE!!!

WHERE IS THE F B I???

Anonymous said...

Luis Saenz is corrupt, it's just a of matter time, Fed's will get him, they are building their case.

Anonymous said...

Give him a badge and we'll call it a dummy badge if he gets caught. Wonder how many times he got away with it.. Accountability. Jajajajaaa jaaa

Anonymous said...

He was the only politician walking during the charro days parade on saturday. Todos los otros mamones were riding on a mercedes, no shame. Typical local politicians. Next year it's going to be called "El desfiles de los politicos coruptos".

Anonymous said...

More LIES from TEAM SAENZ .

He ( Luis V. Saenz) was the ONLY politician caught stealing tax money on gasoline for his department.

Corruption Corruption Corruption

"BIRDS OF THE FEATHER , FLOCK TOGETHER "

Anonymous said...

He ran out of gas that's why he as walking!!!

Anonymous said...

Who did this ???

One of the funniest comments EVER!

Anonymous said...

I heard he was throwing badges to the crowds.

rita