Former Texas Police Officer Sentenced For Drug Trafficking

MCALLEN, TX — A 43-year-old former lieutenant with the Edcouch Police Department in South Texas was sentenced Tuesday to 39 months in prison on federal drug trafficking charges. Vicente Salinas, of Elsa, pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2016, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, the U.S. Attorney's Office Southern District reported.

The incident leading to Salinas' arrest happened on March 18, 2013. Salinas had responded to a scene and ended up confiscating 15 bundles of cocaine. The cocaine was stored with the Edcouch Police Department. When the drugs were ultimately transported to the Hidalgo County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, four of the bundles contained blocks of wood to avoid detection, the Southern District reported.

"Salinas admitted he had participated in the theft. He confessed he was part of a scheme to steal the bundles shortly after officers initially logged the 15 bundles into evidence," the Southern District reported.

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