Guilty!

Who are the misguided few who have earned a special corner in Hell? I'm sure we can all name a few, Hitler, Pol Pot, Mao Tse-tung, to name but a few.

Back home in South Texas there are a number of public figures that if they don't repent and change their ways, will be on the short list of draftees made by the good citizens of the Valley (some former residents as well) (and out of towners).

Right now former Cameron County sheriff Conrado Cantu is high on that list. Conrado Cantu received more than 24 years in prison without parole Tuesday for protecting drug traffickers, money launderers and illegal gamblers during his four years as Cameron County sheriff.

Cantu, 50, served as the county's top lawman between January 2001 and December 2004. He pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering charge in July.

As part of a plea agreement to dismiss six other charges, Cantu admitted to running a three-man crime ring with his former captain and former county jail vendor that abused his office to solicit and extort bribes from drug traffickers.

As a citizen of the Valley, I am angered by the shame Mr. Cantu has brought to this proud region and its good people. As a father who fights to protect his children from the drugs that have now permeated the area, I am angered that he sold his law enforcement office to the drug dealers, the very people who prey on our children.

I agree with the statement made by the Justice Department in this case.

“Mr. Cantu sold his badge and his office, and we will not tolerate that,” said United States Attorney Chuck Rosenberg. “His long sentence of imprisonment fits the crime, for it is simply inexcusable for a law enforcement official to violate the very laws he is sworn to uphold.”

For those who say the Mexican drug corruption problem has little affect on the U.S. here is one of the poster children for the contrary.

Judge Tagle put it best in sentencing Cantu:

"You used your charisma to betray your community," she told Cantu. "For somebody who hates drugs, you certainly did a lot to help the drug trafficking trade."