IRS DELIVERS $311,000 TO LOCAL LAW AGENCIES

Submitted by the City of George West - George West Police Chief Ray
Garcia and Live Oak County Sheriff Larry Busby each received a visit
on Monday from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS handed out
$236,000 to Chief Garcia and $75,000 to Busby from cash seizures.

The money received was from a traffic stop made by Officer Abel Garcia
of the George West Police Department on Oct. 27, 2002, for a defective
light on a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu. After the driver and passenger gave
conflicting stories about where they had been and where they were
headed, Officer Garcia asked for consent to search the vehicle.

Hidden behind the dash was $408,470 in cash wrapped in duct tape and
cellophane. The driver, Walberto Perez, 24, and his father, Gustavo
Perez, 59, of Laredo were then arrested and taken to the Live Oak
County jail on money-laundering charges.

The GWPD then turned the money over to the IRS who retained 20 percent
of the seized cash. The remainder was disbursed to the district
attorney's office and the law agencies who seized the cash and who
assisted.

Chief Garcia was pleased to receive the money. "With this money, we
will continue to provide drug education in our schools, fight the war
on drugs and purchase needed equipment for the police department," he
said.