Feds: Chavez a Drug Kingpin
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page1D A 1D W A R D ● W I N N I N G 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER December 13, 2007 PAG E 1B Feds: Chavez a drug kingpin ■ PBES CELE- ● Cancun’s owner also charged with harboring illegal aliens BRATES Blue of 25 people were arrested in the local drug ring. According to the BY FRANKLIN HAYES Ribbon raids, 15 of which will be deported, document, Chavez and his associ- Gulf Breeze News one was arrested on a separate war- ates procured narcotics from Award [email protected] rant and nine will face prosecution Atlanta or Birmingham, Ala. and for federal charges. Of the nine that distributed them in Northwest ■ Bubba’s The owner of a local Mexican appeared in federal court, prosecu- Florida. The document also states Beach eatery is accused of providing resi- tors said Chavez was the only one informants cooperating with police dents more than just a place to residing in the Unites States legal- were able to obtain fraudulent devour burritos. After an extensive ly. social security cards and guns investigation that lasted almost an Agents from the Florida through Chavez’ associates. entire year, the owner of Cancun’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages Chavez, Cesar Maldonado- Mexican Grill in Gulf Breeze will and Tobacco, Florida Department Bazquez, 28; Alejandro Hatem- face federal charges of conspiring of Law Enforcement, U.S. Drug Hernandez, 28; Antioco Cabrera- to distribute cocaine and metham- Enforcement Agency (DEA), U.S. Esquival, 34 and Jesus Rodriguez- phetamine and harboring illegal Immigration and Customs Orosco, 34, face charges of con- aliens. Enforcement (ICE), Internal spiring to possess and distribute Rogelio Galvan Chavez, 35, and Revenue Service (IRS), Bureau of cocaine and methamphetamine. eight others appeared in federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Chavez faces an additional charge court Tuesday, Dec. 4 after federal Explosives, FBI and U.S. Marshals of harboring illegal aliens. agents raided three restaurants and Service raided Cancun’s locations Rodriguez-Orosco, Hatem- four undisclosed residences in Gulf Breeze and Navarre in Hernandez, and Miguel Angel- Monday, Dec. 3. Eyewitnesses and addition to 7 Mares Mexican Gamez, 38, face charges of com- neighbors said Chavez’ personal Restaurant in Pensacola. mitting illegal re-entry to the residence on Great Oaks Drive was Evidence supporting the raids United States after being denied one of the targeted residences. Scott Page/Gulf Breeze News and arrests was detailed in a 145- admission or being deported. José According to Assistant U.S. Cancun’s restaurant is closed as details about the page affidavit that implicates Louis Martinez-Alvarez, 30, and investigation were released in a 145-page affidavit. Attorney David L. Goldberg, a total WEEKEND Chavez as being the kingpin of a See BUST, Page 2A6 Weather Teacher raises THURSDAY 12/13 Zoo nears Partly Cloudy approved high 74O $1 million BY PAM BRANNON low 57O Gulf Breeze News [email protected] FRIDAY 12/14 in funds Few Showers Santa Rosa County teachers have a con- BY FRANKLIN HAYES O tract – with raises. Teachers have been high 65 Gulf Breeze News O working under last year’s contract since low [email protected] 48 negotiations for a new contract opened in June. Last Wednesday Santa Rosa County Groups like the Gulf Breeze School District officials sat down after a six SATURDAY 12/15 Optimist Club are helping The Zoo – week break in negotiations with the Santa Northwest Florida staff chase their goal Showers Rosa Professional Educators union and O of raising $1 million by the end of high 63 Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News hammered out a contract. Union president 2007. The Optimists recently donated O Optimist Club members and officers Tom Naile, Ray Shane, Marguerite and chief negotiator for the teachers low 41 $7,500 to the park, $2,500 of which Burr and Todd Larson present a check to Zoo officials Danyelle Lantz and Rhonda Chavers said everyone got a raise. were personal donations. Earlier this Chuck Emling. She said when they started the negotia- year, zoo officials announced they SUNDAY 12/16 close," Shane said. The club president Dec. 7 to receive their check, they also tions several months ago there was a zero Partly Cloudy needed $1 million by Dec. 31 and $3 also issued a challenge to other area spoke briefly about what the future million in the course of one year to stay civic groups to match or exceed that may hold for the 50-acre zoological O See RAISE, Page 2A6 high 62 open. amount. park. O low 50 Local Optimist club President Ray The Zoo's new Executive Director, Lantz and Emling outlined a three Shane said the decision to donate was a Danyelle Lantz, said as of Dec. 6 the pillared system needed to continue the GBPD works against no-brainer for his club members, which zoo had raised over $935,000 in cash, operation of the park. aim to support youth and education pledges, in-kind donations and forgive- Government Subsidy holiday crime efforts. INSIDE ness of debt. When Lantz and zoo Since the zoo converted to a non- BY SCOTT PAGE "The zoo is an educational asset to board member Chuck Emling attended Gulf Breeze News the community and we'd hate to see it See ZOO, Page 2A6 Business 8A the Gulf Breeze Optimist Club meeting [email protected] Classifieds 3D Community 3-5&7A The Gulf Breeze Police Department Crossword 3B (GBPD) is taking proactive efforts against Editorial 6A Residents prove ’tis better to give holiday crime in the wake of several Faith 7A November robberies. Two local banks, the Gift Guide 1D BY SCOTT PAGE People’s First Bank on Shoreline Drive and Health 4B Gulf Breeze News the SunTrust bank on Nine Mile Road in Home and Garden2&4D [email protected] Pensacola, were robbed this year by the same Island News 1B man. Another robbery occurred at the Obituaries 4A One Gulf Breeze resident truly SunTrust Bank in Gulf Breeze. Consequently, Schools 7&8C believes in the old Christmas say- GBPD Chief Peter Paulding is taking a page Seniors 4B ing “it’s better to give than from the SunTrust playbook in order to pro- Sports 1-7C receive.” Preston Pittman, a mem- tect local businesses during the holiday sea- Talk of the Town 5&7A ber of the Gulf Breeze United son. “Mailing Statement is on Methodist Church, is fighting an “This time of year, crime rates generally Editorial Page” extremely tough battle with throat tend to increase,” Paulding said. “With a cancer; however, he has somehow FOUR SECTIONS somewhat slumping economy, this year we found the strength to think of oth- VOL. 6, NO. 50 are paying extra attention.” ers this holiday season. DECEMBER 13, 2007 The police department gained more than an The GBUMC makes holiday increased awareness from the SunTrust rob- wishes come true for children in bery. They decided to incorporate the bank's needy families with its Advent comprehensive checklist for identifying rob- Angels program. Advent Angels bery suspects into their crime fighting efforts. gives caring and able participants When most people witness a crime, they the opportunity to sponsor a needy Lisa Newell/Gulf Breeze News are so overwhelmed and excited by the expe- child by buying gifts from their Neighbors from Pins Lane sponsored a needy child by donating money, pur- rience that they sometimes have a hard time home! Christmas list that they would oth- chasing presents and preparing a Christmas feast for the family. describing the event and the person who is erwise have no chance of receiv- responsible. The suspect identification form is ing. sponsor a child. Dolores Pittman, extra $10 to help a child in need. a single sheet of paper that Sun Trust asks its The problem is that most people are Preston’s wife of over 30 years, has It seems that Mr. Pittman’s effort to your employees to fill out immediately after a rob- struggling to afford gifts for members helped him with his effort. ensure a joyful Christmas for all has bery has taken place. It helps to prompt their of their own families, so they often do “We were overwhelmed with the been a success. All of the Advent memory of the robbery in order to aid in the not have the means to sponsor a child response from our neighbors,” Mrs. Angels have been sponsored this year, identification of the suspect. on their own. Pittman, a teacher at Pittman said. “You wouldn’t believe and that includes about 550 underprivi- The GBPD has distributed a copy of this Myrtle Grove Elementary School in how compassionate and kind people leged children and seniors. form to many local businesses in case they Pensacola, came up with a solution to are. Every one of our neighbors who What is most impressive about Mr. become victims of a similar crime this holiday that problem this year. were invited to join the effort gave at Pittman’s dedication to others is the season. He realized that it would be more least $10.” state of his own health. He is dealing "We're encouraging locals to be more vigi- Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today affordable to sponsor all the kids if peo- That is exactly what Mr. Pittman had with a life threatening illness, but has lant during the holidays," Paulding said. ple reached out to one another and in mind when he introduced the idea of still been inspired to place the well- "We've suggested that they adopt a no hats joined forces. What he had in mind was a joint effort to sponsor a child.