LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) - One or more employees for a northern New Mexico police department may have tried to help a suspected drug trafficker who was later arrested in a federal sting, police documents filed in court alleged.
The search warrant affidavit filed recently in U.S. District Court said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration believed someone within the Las Vegas Police Department alerted suspected trafficker Robert Corbin Padilla about an investigation against him, the Las Vegas Optic newspaper reported .
The affidavit, recently unsealed, details DEA agents’ months-long investigation of Padilla, who authorities have said is responsible for 70 percent of the cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine coming into Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Though Padilla lived in Albuquerque, authorities said he often traveled to Las Vegas to “store, retrieve and distribute (drugs), as well as collect drug proceeds,” court documents said.
In an April phone call intercepted by DEA agents, the affidavit said a man told Padilla to “be careful.” During the phone call, the man suggested he knows someone who works for the police, and that they have given him a reason to believe Padilla was being investigated by law enforcement. Padilla asked if it was Las Vegas Police Department or a “higher” agency investigating him, and Herrera said, “I think higher, bro. I’m just telling you to stay alert.”
The affidavit said Padilla did not believe that the investigation was at the federal level because federal law enforcement did not share information with the Las Vegas police due to Padilla’s influence within the department.
“Through information obtained early on in this investigation, agents believe that Padilla has source(s) of information in the Las Vegas Police Department and/or the San Miguel County District Attorney’s Office,” a DEA agent wrote in the affidavit. “Lead agents believe these source(s) of information may provide Padilla information regarding any investigations targeting Padilla as well as provide him information regarding impending execution of search warrants.”
Padilla was arrested last week and faces charges including conspiracy, distribution of cocaine and fentanyl.
Padilla’s attorney, Joe M. Romero, did not immediately return phone message and email messages seeking comment.
Las Vegas Police David Bibb told the newspaper it would be a criminal offense if any employee provided confidential information to an investigation’s target.
Bibb said he could not comment in more detail because the matter “is (or will become) a personnel issue.”
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Information from: Las Vegas Optic, http://www.lasvegasoptic.com
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