Special to the Laredo Sun
EL PASO.- The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) conducted a long-term investigation as a result of citizen’s complaints of narcotics and human trafficking at several local bars: Golden Nugget Bar (BG615814) located at 5711 Trowbridge, Doll House Bar (BG402932) located at 5715 Trowbridge and George Washington Lounge (BG257713) located at 3900 Montana in El Paso. The long-term investigation indicated that several bar employees known to be associates of the violent Barrio Azteca gang were directly involved in the distribution of cocaine at the bars.
The TABC presented a total of 59 delivery of controlled substance felony cases on 29 suspects to the El Paso District Attorney’s Office. With assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, El Paso Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, El Paso Independent School District, and Horizon City Police Department, TABC conducted a warrant round-up in which 12 of 29 suspects were arrested. At least two of those arrested were confirmed members of the Barrio Azteca gang directly involved in the drug trafficking activities.
In conjunction with the warrant round-up, TABC worked with the El Paso County Attorney’s Office to seek temporary restraining orders to immediately close down all three bars. Agents from TABC Special Investigations Unit and Financial Crimes Unit served the managers of the bars respectively with 38 administrative notices that contained 100 various violations of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. The permit holders were cited for sale, delivery, and possession of narcotics by the employees, prostitution, solicitation of an alcoholic beverage by employees, and allowing employees to engage in continued and organized criminal activities contrary of the law designed to protect the general welfare, health, peace, morals, and safety of the people and the public sense of decency.
“TABC license holders who fail to legally manage or control their establishments and allow nefarious activities to take place on the premises do not deserve the privilege to operate a bar in Texas,” said Assistant Chief Dexter Jones. “TABC will continue to partner with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to eradicate bad business behavior occurring inside of bars and restaurants permitted by the TABC,” he added. “License holders have an obligation to comply with the law, and the people of Texas expect them to actively contribute to the overall quality of life and safety of their community,” said Jones.
Anyone with information about illegal activity occurring in a TABC licensed location should call their local TABC office by dialing 1-888-THE-TABC. In El Paso, call 915-351-3697.