Wednesday, Sep 5, 2007
On January 18, 2006, rangers from Amistad assisted special agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the DEA in the execution of 11 simultaneous arrest and search warrants in and around Del Rio, Texas. Over 100 federal and state officers participated in the raids. All warrants served were on properties owned by members of the Torres family, including residences, a trucking company facility, and two large ranches. Members of the Torres family – one of whom worked for the park – had been under federal investigation since 2001. On August 20th, the Torres’ trial began at the federal district court in Del Rio, Texas. On trial were Jaime Torres, his wife Blanca, and his brother Roberto Torres. Roberto Torres was a maintenance employee at Amistad from April 1982 until his resignation shortly after his arrest in January 2007. All three suspects were denied bond by the federal district court judge and have been incarcerated since their arrest on January 18, 2006. Park rangers assigned to the ICE High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force played a vital role in the investigation by interviewing numerous subjects, including other members of the park maintenance staff. One of these interviews was with Marvin Denny and proved to be essential. Denny, another long-term park maintenance employee and a good friend of Roberto Torres, was interviewed on several occasions. After the third interview with Denny, it became very apparent that he was heavily involved with Roberto Torres and his illegal activities. Rangers contacted the special agent in charge of the case and Denny agreed to communicate and cooperate with the agent. Over the course of numerous interviews, Denny revealed his involvement with the Torres smuggling ring. During the four-year period between 2001 and 2005, Denny helped Jaime and Roberto Torres smuggle over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana across Lake Amistad and into the United States. Denny was a key government witness during the trial. In return for his testimony, Denny was given immunity from prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Denny resigned from the NPS in 2006. On August 29th, the jury took less than four hours to return the guilty verdict on all counts for Jaime, Blanca, and Roberto Torres. Jaime Torres was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, one count of conspiracy to import over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Blanca Torres was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Roberto Torres was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, one count of conspiracy to import over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. On August 30th, a forfeiture hearing was held in federal court concerning all assets seized from Jaime, Blanca, and Roberto Torres. The judge determined that all businesses, properties, equipment, vehicles, and residences would be relinquished to the federal government. The sentencing date was set for January 21, 2008.
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