Federal agency alleges someone within LVPD aided drug trafficker
For more than a year, the Drug Enforcement Administration has been investigating, and attempting to disrupt, the flow of illegal drugs into Las Vegas, a search warrant affidavit filed in U.S. District Court shows.
The lengthy investigation focused on a drug trafficking organization led by Robert Corbin Padilla, who the DEA alleges is responsible for trafficking the majority of drugs into Las Vegas, but according to the affidavit, agents believe one or more people working for the Las Vegas Police Department had been alerting Padilla to details of the investigation against him.
Federal agents from the DEA and FBI — along with officers from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service and New Mexico State Police — swarmed Las Vegas last week as a joint task force executed multiple search warrants. While the FBI investigation focused primarily on members and associates of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang, the target of the DEA investigation was Padilla and those working with him.
The recently-unsealed search warrant affidavit details DEA agent’s monthslong investigation of Padilla, and alleges he was responsible for 70 percent of the cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine coming into Las Vegas.
Though Padilla resided in Albuquerque, authorities allege he often traveled to Las Vegas to “store, retrieve and distribute (drugs), as well as collect drug proceeds.”
During its investigation, the DEA secured warrants for wiretaps on six cellphones used by Padilla, and one belonging to Rose Ann Romero, who agents allege stored drugs for Padilla at her home in the 1000 block of Railroad Avenue. Agents also allege she helped distribute drugs and collect money for Padilla.
In an April phone call intercepted by DEA agents, a man identified by agents as Ray Herrera told Padilla to “be careful.” During the phone call, Herrera indicates that he knows someone who works for the police, and that they have given him reason to believe Padilla was being investigated by law enforcement. Padilla asked if it was LVPD or a “higher” agency investigating him, and Herrera said, “I think higher, bro. I’m just telling you to stay alert.”
In a summary of the conversation between Herrera and Padilla, the affidavit states: “Padilla doesn’t believe that the investigation is at the federal level because federal law enforcement don’t share information with the Las Vegas Police Department due to Padilla’s influence within the department.”
In an earlier phone call from Romero to Padilla, Romero said she’d recently seen Herrera in person, and that he wanted her to tell Padilla to “be careful” because someone had told him authorities, possibly federal, were investigating him. “They want you really, really bad,” Romero said.
In the DEA search warrant affidavit, the special agent in charge wrote: “Through information obtained early on in this investigation, agents believe that Padilla has source(s) of information in the Las Vegas Police Department and/or the San Miguel County District Attorney’s Office. Lead agents believe these source(s) of information may provide Padilla information regarding any investigations targeting Padilla as well as provide him information regarding impending execution of search warrants.”
In an email to the Optic, Chief of Police David Bibb said that if any LVPD employee has provided confidential information to a target of an investigation, it would be considered a criminal offense. Chief Bibb added that since this matter “is (or will become) a personnel issue” he could not comment further.
Fourth Judicial District Attorney Richard Flores told the Optic via email that upon learning of the allegations made against his office, he contacted the U.S. Attorney and the DEA to offer his assistance with any investigation into these allegations.
“I expressed to them how concerned I was, if true of my office, and expressed my full cooperation,” Flores said. “I have scheduled a meeting with DEA for this Thursday. After I meet with them, I’m hopeful that I will have much more information.”
Padilla was apprehended Thursday in Albuquerque by federal agents. He faces multiple federal charges for the distribution of controlled substances.
