Man who told witness ‘not to snitch on us’ held without bond

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man who told a witness “not to snitch on us” was held without bond Monday.

Carlos Gerardo Perez Muñoz — a Mexican citizen in his mid-50s with no legal status in the United States — is accused of interfering with a federal investigation.

“This is a case where the defendant threatened one of my government witnesses,” Mario Godinez, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said during a hearing on Monday morning.

Godinez worked on an investigation that involved ropa usada businesses in Hidalgo.

Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raided the businesses in March. Agents detained six people on money laundering, smuggling and immigration charges.

Godinez signed the criminal complaint against Claudio Armando Cazares Gonzalez, who managed Tamayo Ropa Usada.

Cazares is accused of hiring people without legal status in the United States. He pleaded not guilty.

On July 24, more than four months after the raids, Godinez followed up with a government witness.

The witness said Perez had approached her, made a comment about where she lived and warned her “not to snitch on us.”

Godinez asked her for more details.

According to the witness, Perez approached her at another ropa usada business in Hidalgo.

Perez said a friend at U.S. Customs and Border Protection told him the witness had been questioned by federal agents.

According to the witness, Perez told her: “If you speak too much, you will be harmed,” Godinez said.

Perez also made a comment about where the witness lived.

“He asked her if she was still traveling from Rio Bravo to Hidalgo,” Godinez said.

In a separate conversation, Perez spoke with a second government witness, Godinez said, but it’s unclear what they discussed.

Godinez called the second witness and sent him several text messages, attempting to follow up.

“And I got no messages back,” Godinez said.

Customs and Border Protection stopped Perez on July 31, when he attempted to cross the Hidalgo bridge.

When agents questioned him, Perez admitted to speaking with both witnesses, according to the criminal complaint against him, and saying “not to snitch on us.”

Homeland Security Investigations charged Perez with tampering with a witness, victim or informant.

Perez appeared in court Monday wearing a salmon-colored shirt, blue jeans and silver handcuffs.

Attorney Jose “Pepe” Garza Sr. of McAllen, who represents Perez, said his client never actually threatened to harm the witness.

The conversation took place in Spanish, Garza said, and the correct translation is “prejudiced,” not “harmed.”

“He’s splitting linguistic hairs,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Lyles, who is prosecuting the case.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano said the exact translation wasn’t material.

“I do find that there is sufficient probable cause to believe a crime was committed,” Medrano said, and that Perez was involved.

Perez, a citizen of Mexico with no legal status in the United States, waived his detention hearing.

Medrano ordered Perez held without bond.

If convicted of tampering with a witness, Perez faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.