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.