Paralegal for U.S. Attorney’s Office Charged with Tipping Off Drug Cartel

A paralegal in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Antonio, has been fired and charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, after allegedly tipping off a Mexican drug cartel about a forthcoming raid. As part of her position, the paralegal was given access to records and reports about pending drug investigations, surveillance and raids. She is accused of passing that information on to drug traffickers in the San Antonio area. Authorities initially became suspicious when federal agents executed a search warrant, but found that multiple targets of the warrant had moved the night before, and left only a small amount of drugs for seizure, In March of 2020, agents seized a cell phone of a drug suspect, and found text messages warning him of the coming raid, and referring to his inside source. With the help of an informant, federal authorities were able to pinpoint the paralegal as the source of leaked information. Experts say that it is not unusual for drug cartels to try and recruit corrupt law enforcement officials and government employees to help them as a means of controlling their business.