Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Former Officer Armando Duenez Fails to Appear for Court

A former police officer who failed to appear for arraignment on firearms charges has been indictment for failing to appear as ordered, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. The indictment was returned on Tuesday.

Armando Duenez, 26, formerly employed as a police officer with the Rio Hondo City Police Department was charged by criminal complaint on July 9 for allegedly making materially false statements to obtain firearms and unlawfully selling firearms without a license. He was arrested.

On July 10, he was ordered released on a $30,000 unsecured bond with the condition he appear as ordered at any future court proceedings. On August 5, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Duenez and Ramon Martinez, 37, also formerly employed as a police officer with the Palm Valley Police Department with conspiring to and selling firearms without a license and for making materially false statements to acquire firearms.

Both Duenez and Martinez were ordered by the court to appear for arraignment on the charges on August 14. Duenez failed to appear for the scheduled hearing and a bench warrant has issued for his arrest.

The federal charge of failing to appear as required by conditions of release carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of Duenez is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at (956) 548-2519 or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at (956) 687-5207.


More Information: http://www.kgbt4.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=207392

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