Pubdate: Mon, 14 May 2001 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2001 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 Author: Diana Washington Valdez EL PASO'S NEW DEA LEADER FOUGHT MOVE The Drug Enforcement Administration's new chief in El Paso fought against coming to the border city, but after three weeks, he's settled into the job. Sandalio "Sandy" Gonzalez was associate special agent in charge of the DEA's Miami Field Division before coming to El Paso. Before his move, he filed an unsuccessful court action to prevent his transfer. He alleged that the transfer out of Florida was punishment for exposing wrongdoing and discrimination within the DEA in that state. DEA officials denied the allegations. Although his litigation in Florida continues, Gonzalez said he's focused on his duties in El Paso as the agency's new special agent in charge. "I don't see a problem. My work here has nothing to do with the other issues," he said. "I have been welcomed here, and I have not noticed any negative feedback. If I really didn't want to come here, I would have put in for my retirement. I'm a professional, and I expect my staff to be the same way." He's unpacked his collection of hats -- souvenirs from past U.S. and international drug investigations -- and has started to meet with other drug-fighting officials in the region. "I bring the perspective of someone who has extensive experience in domestic and international cases," Gonzalez said as he arranged some of the hats on a shelf at his office in the U.S. Justice Building. "I also came from local law enforcement, and I believe that will help in relationships with local police and sheriff departments." Gonzalez, born in Cuba, has served in Costa Rica, Mexico and South America. His newest assignment puts him at the gateway of a major drug corridor dominated by the Juarez drug cartel. In his first three weeks in El Paso, Gonzalez attended a Border Patrol station dedication, attended his first meeting with the West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area board and served on a panel during a DEA workshop against the legalization of drugs. Not everyone has welcomed that work. Jerry Epstein, president of the Drug Policy Forum of Texas, called information he saw on the Internet from the workshop propaganda. He represents an organization that favors reforming U.S. drug policy. Gonzalez began his law-enforcement career as a deputy sheriff. He went on to become a police patrolman in California and joined the DEA in 1978. In the 1980s, he was involved in the investigation of the death of DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was slain in Mexico while investigating drug traffickers. Travis Kuykendall, a former DEA official and head of the West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area office, said he knows Gonzalez will be a good special agent in charge. "Sandy's a good man and has a very good reputation and is respected within the DEA," Kuykendall said. "We're glad to have him here and on the HIDTA board of directors." Gonzalez said he wants to build on the efforts of his predecessor, Bobby Castillo, who was transferred to the DEA's division office in Denver. "This is the newest division-level office of the DEA, and so there's still work to do," Gonzalez said. "For example, we need to beef up the staff and increase the number of investigators and support personnel." A large percentage of the DEA's work in El Paso is to help prepare cases for prosecution that involve Border Patrol drug seizures. "The Border Patrol works very closely with the DEA in El Paso ... we anticipate that will continue under (Gonzalez)," Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said. The U.S. Customs Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation, which also investigate drug cases, process their own cases for court. The El Paso DEA's jurisdiction includes all of New Mexico and some of West Texas. From 1998 to April 2001, the DEA in that area made 3,439 arrests, investigated 1,000 cases and seized 326,073 pounds of marijuana, 18,858 pounds of cocaine, 34 pounds of heroin, 574 pounds of methamphetamines and $30 million in currency and other assets. Gonzalez said he also supports the DEA's Teens in Charge program in El Paso, which supports youths who teach other youths about the dangers of drugs. - --------------------------------------- Sidebar: Gonzalez File Sandalio Gonzalez is the new special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's El Paso field division. He was born in Cuba and began his law-enforcement career in 1972 as a deputy sheriff for Los Angeles County. In 1973, he was a patrolman for the Huntington Park Police Department. He joined the DEA in 1978 as a special agent with the Los Angeles field division. He has a college degree in criminal justice. With the DEA, he has served in Costa Rica, Mexico City, Washington, D.C., among other places. He served in several complex U.S. and international drug investigations, and served in various administrative and adviser positions. His oldest son is a DEA special agent on the West Coast. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk