Pubdate: Thu, 02 Feb 2006
Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ)
Copyright: 2006 Pulitzer Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23

MEXICAN FEDERAL COP INDICTED IN TUCSON ON MARIJUANA COUNTS

A Mexican federal police officer was indicted on drug-trafficking 
charges in Tucson, the Justice Department said Wednesday. Ruben 
Rochin-Gutierrez of Navojoa, Sonora, made his initial appearance 
Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Marshall after 
being arrested Tuesday. Before the arrest, a federal grand jury 
returned a three-count indictment Nov. 16 on charges of conspiracy to 
possess with intent to distribute about 9,500 pounds of marijuana and 
other charges, a Justice Department news release said. The alleged 
criminal activity is believed to have taken place from an unknown 
date until last Nov. 16 in Tucson, Nogales, Ariz., and elsewhere, 
according to the news release. The indictment alleges that on April 
17, 2003, Rochin-Gutierrez, 39, possessed with an intent to 
distribute about 2,969 pounds of marijuana. It also states that on 
Dec. 16, 2004, he possessed with the intent to distribute 3,520 
pounds of marijuana. Rochin-Gutierrez has a detention hearing and 
arraignment set for Friday, the news release states. Convictions on 
conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms 
(2,200 pounds) or more of marijuana, and on possession with intent to 
distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, each carry a maximum 
penalty of life in prison, a $4 million fine, or both.
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