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.
According to Saenz, when Hinojosa learned of his client’s arrest he checked his office for his badge, learned it was missing and immediately reported it.
Cameron County Courthouse surveillance video Saenz showed to The Brownsville Herald shows Osiel Cardenas Jr. arriving in a blue Nissan GT-R and parking in a spot reserved for law enforcement officers across the street from Hinojosa’s office at 2:50 p.m. March 13.
In the surveillance video, Cardenas Jr. is shown leaving the office about 15 to 20 minutes later with a shiny object hanging around his neck.
Apparently, Cardenas Jr. was there to meet with Hinojosa about a case, Saenz said. DA Chief Investigator George Delaunay said the video corroborates that meeting.
Hinojosa was allowed to keep his badge as a keepsake, Delaunay explained.
The Brownsville Police Department didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry on whether a theft report had been filed.
In a hearing on Jan. 9, Cardenas Jr. was granted a driver’s license, citing his need to use it for work. It’s not immediately clear where he is employed. He was allowed to drive from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in multiple South Texas counties, court records show.
Cardenas Jr. violated his supervised release July 28, 2016, after driving with a suspended license, court records show.
Hinojosa first joined the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office in 2009 and left in 2015 to pursue private practice, Saenz said.
NEW CHARGES
On March 16, federal authorities filed the new charge against Osiel Cardenas Jr. for being a convicted felon who received a firearm through interstate or foreign commerce, court records show.
An initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya III revealed that Cardenas Jr. was in possession of a Bersa pistol, model Thunder 380, with .380 caliber ammunition that was made in Argentina and imported to New Jersey.
The proceedings Tuesday morning revealed that authorities believe Cardenas Jr. displayed a Cameron County District Attorney’s badge inside the bar, waved a handgun in the air and ordered patrons to leave the establishment or be arrested while claiming to be a U.S. Marshal.
According to the criminal complaint, Cardenas Jr. directed the arresting officer to the badge and claimed to be a U.S. Marshal.
A search of the vehicle revealed a black bag on the passenger seat that contained the two-toned nickel-plated Bersa pistol with black grips, his Mexican and U.S. driver’s licenses, and cash.
Cardenas Jr. can be seen on surveillance video of the visit to Hinojosa’s office carrying a black bag.
A witness caught the entire incident at the Sky Bar & Lounge on video, both inside and outside of the bar, court records show.
Cardenas Jr. told Torteya that he will hire his own lawyer.
He is currently being held without bond.
Torteya scheduled a preliminary examination and detention hearing for the new charges for 9 a.m. March 23.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, court proceedings showed.
Cardenas Jr. is scheduled for a supervised release violation hearing in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Morgan at 1:30 p.m. today.
He was on supervised release after being convicted in 2015 of attempting to illegally export 290 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 161 rounds of .223 ammunition, 29 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, two .223 rifle magazines and other tactical weapons gear into Mexico, and sentenced to 10 months in prison and three years supervised released, records show.
