The son of a former Gulf Cartel capo who the Brownsville Police Department arrested last week at a Brownsville bar displayed a Cameron County District Attorney’s badge, which belonged to a former assistant district attorney, according to authorities.
The son of a former Gulf Cartel capo who the Brownsville Police Department arrested last week at a Brownsville bar displayed a Cameron County District Attorney’s badge, which belonged to a former assistant district attorney, according to authorities.
Now, Osiel Cardenas Jr., 26 — son of Osiel Cardenas, who is serving a 25-year sentence for a host of drug trafficking charges — is facing a new federal charge.
It’s unknown how Cardenas Jr. acquired the badge, which authorities say was displayed before his arrest. The revelation that Cardenas Jr. had obtained a Cameron County District Attorney’s badge came to light during a court hearing when federal authorities levied the new charge against Cardenas Jr. for being a felon in possession of a handgun.
The Brownsville Police Department arrested Cardenas Jr. at around 2 a.m. March 15 outside of the Sky Bar & Lounge in Brownsville, and he was charged with public intoxication, unlawful carrying of a weapon and false report to a police officer, court records show.
He is accused of entering the bar, waving a handgun in the air while claiming to be a U.S. Marshal and ordering patrons to leave the bar or be arrested, according to authorities.
On Tuesday afternoon, Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz said the badge belonged to former Assistant District Attorney Ismael Hinojosa, who is now a defense lawyer who represents Cardenas in a petition for an occupational driver’s license, court records show.
Hinojosa declined to comment, citing attorney-client privilege.
A more complete version of this story is available on www.myBrownsvilleHerald.com
