ALLEGED DRUG FIGURE RULED A FLIGHT RISK

A man accused of being a Tijuana drug cartel lieutenant should be jailed
without bond because he might flee the country, not because he is a danger,
a federal judge ruled yesterday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Aaron said Arturo Paez Martinez might flee
because he faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.

Paez, 34, is accused of smuggling more than 2,200 pounds of cocaine into
the United States for Tijuana's Arellano Felix cartel. He could receive
life in prison if found guilty.

"The potential penalties are so severe and the incentives to stay are very
small," Aaron said. "He would have a great incentive to flee and not have
anything to do with this."

But Aaron said prosecutors had not proved Paez should be jailed because he
is dangerous. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gonzalo Curiel argued that Paez could
be considered dangerous because of the allegations that he is a member of
the Arellano cartel.

The Arellanos "are in the business of trying to eradicate or kill enemies
of the organization," he said.

Paez's defense attorney, Knut Johnson, said his client denies he is
connected to the Arellanos.

"There is absolutely no evidence that he is dangerous," Johnson said. "He
is a gentle, calm, decent professional who has nothing to do with violence."

Johnson said his client, who attended high school in Chula Vista, also has
local ties because some family members live in the United States.

On May 4, Paez was flown out under heavy guard from the international
airport at Toluca near Mexico City to face charges outlined in the San
Diego federal indictment.

The extradition was the first action taken under a Mexican Supreme Court
decision in January that cleared the way for Mexicans to be sent to the
United States to stand trial.

Paez had been jailed at a maximum-security facility outside Mexico City
since his 1997 arrest in Tijuana.