Reading about recent law enforcement shenanigans in South Texas reminded me of the time I spent there, and the people I met. The Valley is not like other places.
My wife took a job in McAllen, TX. Jobs were hard to find in the area, but eventually I found a spot bartending at a hotel nightclub in nearby Edinburg, the county seat. It was a rough spot, but it was the social gathering point for the community. Lawyers from the state courthouse, politicos, and any kind of VIP could be there any night of the week, mixing with drunks and criminals.
One of the most respected of the locals was the county sheriff, Brig Marmolejo. He was taller and wider than most, and wore a wide brimmed cowboy hat. He was elected on the slogan, A big man for a big job. He wasn't the most frequent of patrons at the nightclub, you couldn't help but notice him when he was there. He was always surrounded by well wishers, almost like a fan club.
That part of the world is a haven for drug smugglers, and the jails have a steady flow of arrestees. In April of '93 one was admitted into the county jail. He was allegedly part of a large trafficking operation. But the oddest thing happened - not long after he was booked the smuggler walked out of jail. The deputies explained (as I recall) that they left him unattended in a room accidentally unlocked. He walked right out the front door.
A couple of nights later Brig was in my bar. I couldn't resist a jibe.
"Hey, Brig, I heard you had a little trouble down at the jail!"
Hey turned to me, with a solemn expression, and said, "No, no trouble at all."
I must have been young and naive at the time, and I didn't suspect Brig was behind the incident. The feds thought otherwise. Although he was never charged in the escape, Brig was charged in a bribery case in 1994. He was convicted of taking bribes from another drug dealer in his jail, $5,000 a month, plus $1,000 per 'conjugal visit' from the dealer's wife and girlfriend.
He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Part I here.
Posted by Walter at April 29, 2005 03:52 PM