Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2000
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2000 El Paso Times
Contact:  P.O.Box 20, El Paso, Texas 79999
Fax: (915) 546-6415
Website:  http://www.borderlandnews.com/
Author: Diana Washington Valdez

FORT BLISS SOLDIER AWAITS COURT-MARTIAL

An Army warrant officer with 26 years of service has been charged by the 
military with drug possession, bribery and threatening a family, Fort Bliss 
officials said Thursday.

Army officials said Warrant Officer Luis R. Rodriguez-Martinez is scheduled 
to face trial by court-martial Oct. 16 at the post.

The warrant officer, who's assigned to the 546th Personnel Services 
Detachment, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt said the soldier is still on duty at 
Fort Bliss and -- as in civilian courts -- is presumed innocent until 
proved guilty.

"The investigation began in 1998, but did not focus on Rodriguez until much 
later," Offutt said.

"Former Sergeant Major Juan Rosario, who is currently serving time for his 
role, allegedly was part of the same drug-trafficking 
organization-conspiracy," she said.

Last year, Rosario, 44, was convicted of attempting to bribe a U.S. Customs 
Service inspector. He was sentenced to 57 months in a federal prison after 
he pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 2, 1999.

Initially, Rosario was charged with importing marijuana and trying to bribe 
a customs officer at one of the international bridges in El Paso.

Offutt said the military has charged Rodriguez-Martinez with six 
violations: Conspiring with members of a Juarez drug-trafficking 
organization to import marijuana into the United States.

Importing marijuana.

Possessing marijuana with intent to distribute it.

Bribing U.S. customs officials.

Threatening an individual and his family.

Soliciting another to import marijuana. Military officials expect the trial 
of Rodriguez-Martinez to last several days.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at  ---
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