MCALLEN, TEXAS (AP) -- A federal judge in South Texas has set bond at $100,000 for each of three former sheriff's deputies facing drug conspiracy charges.
Salvador Joel Arguello, Claudio Alberto Mata and Eric Michael Alcantar were charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine.
All entered pleas of not guilty Wednesday in McAllen.
A superseding indictment released last week added the former Hidalgo County deputies to the broad drug conspiracy that has implicated seven members of a now disbanded local drug task force.
The so-called Panama Unit joined deputies of the sheriff's office with police officers from Mission to target street-level drug crime in that city.
Prosecutors allege the police stole drugs and took money to protect drug supplies.
(Copyright ©2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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