| ||
|
NM trainer
Gonzalez caught in drug bust: update - by Pete Herrera
Albuquerque, NM - Feb. 6, 2012 - New Mexico Horse Racing Commission officials have suspended the licenses of three trainers and a horse owner who federal agents allege were part of a massive drug operation that involved millions of dollars in drugs and had ties with the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico. Commission agency director Vince Mares told SureBet on Monday that the licenses of owner/trainer Ramon Gonzalez, his son Ramon Gonzalez Jr., and Andres Gonzalez, the elder Gonzalez’ nephew, had been ``summarily’’ suspended by a board of stewards on Friday. The board also suspended the owner’s license of Homer Varela, a major figure in the federal investigation that led to the arrests earlier this month. The suspensions will remain in effect until the cases against the Gonzalez’s and Varela are resolved through the courts, Mares said. The suspensions were handed down during a hearing by the board of stewards. ``Because of the severity of the charges, they were afforded a hearing,’ Mares said. ``They did not show up. They will continue to be suspended until the criminal case is finished.’’ Albuquerque attorney Cody Kelley, who represents the Gonzalez’s, declined to comment at this time. The Gonzalez’s run a large horse racing operation in New Mexico—both thoroughbreds and quarter horses. They own a ranch in McIntosh, N.M., and have had up to 100 or more horses. Mares said once the criminal cases against the Gonzalez’s and Varela are resolved, the four will have the opportunity to go before the State Racing Commission if they want to seek reinstatement of their licenses. read related story:
Trainer Caught Up in
Drug Busts | ||
|
|
