Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez announced Monday that a 43-year-old police sergeant with the Progreso Police Department has been charged in a drug trafficking case, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Authorities arrested Geovani Hernandez, 43, of Weslaco after a sealed criminal complaint was filed on Saturday. Hernandez had an initial hearing with U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos Monday morning.
According to the news release:
From March through July 2017, a confidential source allegedly met with Hernandez seeking assistance for a drug trafficking organization. The criminal complaint alleges the meetings culminated in Hernandez agreeing to provide protection for a vehicle he believed contained a controlled substance through the Progreso area. In return for his assistance, Hernandez allegedly received approximately $5,000.
The case dubbed ‘Operation Blue Shame’ was a joint investigation between Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS – Criminal Investigations, according to the news release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos scheduled a preliminary examination and detention hearing for Friday.
Correction: Federal agents arrested Geovani Hernandez, 43, of Weslaco. His first name is Geovani, not Giovani.
