LAREDO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Two Border Patrol leaders under investigation for their ties to a Mexican tequila company are also being looked into for their relationships with an international businessman involved in cross-border trade, NBC News reports say.
Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens and Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez are being investigated after meetings with Mexican-American businessman Eduardo Garza raised questions concerning a conflict of interest, NBC News stated.
From Left: Jason Owens and Gloria Chavez (Photos from AP News)
Garza owns Uni-Trade, which advises international companies on “global transportation, foreign trade and customs.” The businessman allegedly hosted Border Patrol officials at his ranch in Laredo for three events.
According to its website, Uni-Trade is a “customs broker that offers integral services of International Cargo.” The company’s mission statement states they are committed to giving clients logistic solutions for global transportation, foreign trade and customs.
NBC News states that U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility is now investigating to learn if Chavez and Owens fully disclosed their contacts with Garza or everything that Garza provided to them.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General is also asking questions pertaining to the activities of Chavez and Garza at some or all of the events, according to NBC News.
According to the report, regardless of what the Border Patrol leaders did or did not disclose, their CBP ethics policies prohibit them from receiving gifts from anyone who “conducts activities regulated by the employee’s agency” or “has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee’s official duties.”
Since Garza’s business conducts activities regulated by CBP, he may be considered a “prohibited source” of gifts, according to NBC News.
The CBP ethics code defines gifts as “entertainment, hospitality … transportation, local travel, lodgings and meals.”
Chavez and Owens are also under investigation following an attempt to collaborate with a Mexican tequila maker. NBC News reported that the two leaders were seen partying in Jalisco, Mexico with distiller Francisco Javier González of the Tequila Casa de los González, his family’s distillery complex. Photos of the trio began to circulate on social media in February.
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