CrimProf Shaun Martin Comments on Prosecution's Desperate Efforts in Felix Case

From SignOnSanDiego.com: University of San Diego CrimProf Shaun Martin recently commented the Prosecution's recent  seemingly desperate decisions in the Francisco Javier Arellano Félix case to get people to testify.

The Prosecution charged one potential witness, who was going to be deported back to Mexico, with the felony of making a false statement to a government agent  – lying about his name to the Coast Guard.

Mexican officials extradited his oldest brother, Francisco Rafael, on Saturday to face charges from a 26-year-old case. He was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Federal prosecutors are also asking for the extradition of another brother, Benjamín, who is in custody in Mexico and was indicted in the same case as the oldest brother.

Drug Enforcement Agency Officials said that Francisco Javier Arellano Félix the leader of one of Mexico's biggest drug cartels. Arellano took over his family's cartel after one of his brothers was killed and another was arrested. They say the ring smuggled tons of cocaine and other drugs into the United States over the past decades, corrupted officials, and is behind murders on both sides of the border.

Martin beieves this recent move indicates the case isn't coming into focus quite yet. “They may feel they have a strong case against Arellano Félix, but what's happening with these other players tends to suggest a somewhat desperate effort to get these people to testify against Arellano Félix,” he said. Rest of Article. . . [Mark Godsey]