FORMER CAMERON COUNTY SHERIFF, 4 OTHERS INDICTED

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - An embattled former Cameron County sheriff was jailed
Thursday on charges of leading a criminal enterprise while in office that
included extortion, drug trafficking and witness tampering.

Former Sheriff Conrado Cantu is accused of receiving payments from known
drug traffickers in exchange for releasing sensitive law enforcement
information between January 2001 and December 2004, his term in office. He
also is accused of using his official powers to protect and assist the drug
traffickers.

"It is a blow to honest law enforcement when one of its own is accused of
corrupting his office and abusing the public's trust," FBI San Antonio
Special Agent in Charge Patrick A. Patterson said in a statement.

Four others, including two who worked for Cantu in the Cameron County
Sheriff's Department, face similar charges in a 10-count indictment that
was unsealed Thursday after the last of the five was arrested.

Cantu was arrested Wednesday, two days after he was indicted. He will
remain in jail until his arraignment Monday.

"He thinks that this is a witch hunt," Cantu's attorney, Alberto Pullen,
said after the hearing. "There is just not enough evidence to convict him
of all the charges."

Pullen described Cantu as frustrated and sad.

"It's no picnic spending a night in city jail," Pullen said of the former
sheriff, who answered questions in court in a firm voice.

Cantu is charged with eight counts, including conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, extortion, money laundering,
obstruction and being a member of a criminal enterprise engaged in a
pattern of racketeering activity.

The defendants who worked for Cantu are Rumaldo Rodriguez, 50, a captain in
Cantu's department and now a Cameron County constable's deputy; and
Geronimo Garcia, 33, a former operator of the Cameron County Jail Commissary.

The other two defendants, Hector Solis and Reynaldo Uribe, are associates
of Rodriguez and Garcia, U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby said. All but Solis
appeared in federal court Thursday. Solis, arrested Thursday, will appear later.