BajaNews - 3-23-2006 at 03:24 AM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20060323-9...
By Anna Cearley
March 23, 2006
TIJUANA ? A Mexican state investigator whose photo appeared two years ago on an FBI list of suspected collaborators with the region's main drug
cartels continues working for the Baja California State Attorney General's Office.
This week, after El Mexicano newspaper published a front-page story identifying the agent ? Hernando Villegas ? and asking why he is still with the
agency, U.S. authorities said they were also confounded.
?We have the same questions about that as well,? FBI spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said.
Villegas is in charge of security details for the top state police commander in Mexicali. In 2004, his photo appeared on an FBI list of people
suspected of obtaining fake Mexican police credentials. His name didn't show up on the list, but he is identified as No. 61 of the 76 photos. Caldwell
confirmed Villegas' identity yesterday.
?We know as a fact that No. 61 obtained a fake federal agent's ID to commit felonious crimes,? Caldwell said.
Fake police cards are often used by drug groups to camouflage criminal activities under the guise of police work.
Antonio Mart?nez Luna, Baja California's attorney general, said he thought the issue was resolved two years ago when his agency checked with the FBI
to see whether there was a legal basis to detain Villegas.
?There wasn't an arrest warrant . . . and an internal investigation determined that there wasn't evidence to find him responsible,? Mart?nez said.
Mart?nez said his agency doesn't have physical evidence to prosecute Villegas because the FBI's list was based on photos and computer information
collected north of the border. Several of those identified as using the fake police cards turned out to be law enforcement officials who worked for
other police agencies.
Caldwell said the FBI has worked closely with Mexican authorities to track down people on the poster, and that some have been arrested.
?We are confident that the appropriate measures will be taken in Mexico,? she said.
Mart?nez said he spoke with FBI officials earlier yesterday to help them set up a meeting with Villegas. He said the agent's willingness to be
investigated now and in the past is markedly different from the way others have reacted after the photos were published.
?Others fled when these photos came out, and others have been arrested, but this one kept on working and said he made himself available to be
interviewed and to clear this name,? Mart?nez said.