The Mala Sangre Summary of Allegations
Allegations drawn from the Mala Sangre Investigation Summary
Fri., Feb. 16, 2001
In 1999, IRS Agent Wayne Young, with the help of APD Officer Stan Farris, prepared a 10-page "Summary of Allegations," describing a list of allegations developed during the Mala Sangre investigation. Many of the allegations concerned possible criminal activity by named Austin police officers, and it is clear from the document that several of the unnamed confidential informants were also police officers. Although the document was intended for presentation to APD Chief Stan Knee, Young testified he doesn't know if Chief Knee was ever given the document at the time it was prepared. Knee has recently described the summary as "unprofessional" and based solely on "rumors."
Informants say two APD officers were taken on all-expense-paid trips to at least two Super Bowl games by drug-trafficking target Roger López. Informants also claimed that the same two officers facilitated his smuggling activities by providing confidential police department documents, rental cars, and even an Austin Police Association-leased cell phone. Informants reported that one of the officers made trips back and forth to South Texas on behalf of investigation target López.
An informant also said that more than one officer warned area gang members that law enforcement officers were investigating their activities.
Several informants told similar stories of after-hours sex and drug parties taking place at Cocktails nightclub -- a favorite hang-out of Roger López -- where several APD officers provided off-duty security. Informants also said that numerous on- and off-duty officers attended the parties where "exotic dancers performed and cocaine was openly traded to the girls in exchange for sexual favors."
Investigators allege that on one occasion, when they tried to set up surveillance at Cocktails, it was halted at the last minute by an APD officer and a former FBI agent. On that same occasion, "for the first time in weeks," according to investigators, the party was canceled at the last minute. Investigators say that surveillance of the club was never resumed.
Police informants allege that an APD senior officer and a former FBI agent were interfering with witnesses associated with the Mala Sangre investigation. In one case, the informant said, the FBI agent took female informants brought in for interrogation into a room alone, and when the women returned to the interrogation, they "chose not to continue furnishing information."
The Chronicle's brief summary below of Young's 10-page document concerns the major incidents and allegations described by Young and Farris. Although Young's Summary does name numerous APD officers, we have omitted the names here.
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