Ex lawman from Nogales is arraigned in drug case
Cocaine trafficking, selling info to cartel

By-Michel Marizco
Published Friday, September 4, 2009 4:58 PM MDT

A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who worked in Nogales, and then in Mexico was arraigned in federal court Friday morning, accused of trafficking cocaine and selling information about law enforcement operations to a drug cartel.

Richard Padilla Cramer

Richard Padilla Cramer was a federal agent for nearly 30 years. He is accused of negotiating cocaine shipments from Panama to Spain while he was working for ICE out of the Guadalajara office, according to the criminal complaint filed against him by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami, Fla.  Cramer, allegedly invested $15,000 to $25,000 in one shipment of some 660 pounds of cocaine. He is also accused of selling confidential information from law enforcement databases to an unidentified drug cartel.  Cramer, who is well known in the Nogales area, left here in 2004, said ICE spokesman Vincent Picard. He worked in Mexico until he retired. Until last week, Cramer, a resident of Green Valley, was employed by the Santa Cruz County Detention Center. He took the job in May and went through the Correctional Officers Training Academy in Tucson, said Ramon Romo, executive assistant to the sheriff.  “He was given a citation for his professionalism upon his graduation from CODA,” said Romo, adding, “This is very uncharacteristic.”  Romo, who worked with Cramer when Cramer was a dispatcher and later a deputy with the sheriff’s department from 1976-79, said he did not know the particulars of the case.  He said the file obtained by his department on Cramer’s background during the interview process for the detention department “has nothing but good stuff; nothing detrimental.”  “I have mixed feelings; I feel bad for him and for his family. This has to be very hard. I hope he gets out of this one.”  Romo said Cramer went to work in September 1979 for the Nogales Police Department and in 1981 joined U.S. Customs.  Sheriff Antonio Estrada said Cramer was “well known and respected. He was a local resident that went on to do well in his career. While he has not been convicted and we are not sure how this will end, there is certainly a feeling of betrayal.  “This just goes to show we all have to be mindful and watchful for the long tentacles of the drug trade, which tend to try to creep into every agency, local, state and federal.”

(Manuel C. Coppola contributed to this article.)

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Comments

Jon D wrote on Sep 8, 2009 7:28 AM:

" Mr. Romo - What an unfortunate choice of words...or do you really what you say? I do not want to judge Mr Cramer - however, your words and hope implies that he has been suspected before? There is no tolerance rule for corruption in the ranks of Law Enforcement - obviously you have other thoughts. "

NotUrFriend wrote on Sep 7, 2009 5:23 PM:

" Mr. Cramer was in charge of the METRO Task Force. I feel this is only the tip of the iceberg and should be looked into in detail. I am not in the least surprised by Mr. Romo’s statement. He became Chief Deputy under Sheriff Bracamonte, take from that what you like. "

Wonderer wrote on Sep 7, 2009 12:01 PM:

" Are Feds looking into all his associates, collegues, friends & family?
Thirty years as a respected law enforcement officer... how long had he been in business? "

Aztound wrote on Sep 7, 2009 11:30 AM:

" I sure hope Mr. Romo's comment was out an emotional concern for his friend and not a professional one. If the Feds have him that means that they have enough evidence to accuse him. However, my cocnern is for the hundreds of people he has caused harm to by trafficking. "

Yeah wrote on Sep 6, 2009 9:30 PM:

" I truly hope that Mr. Romo didn't actually say ..." I hope he gets out of this one." The media has its ways of changing some stories, so I'm giving it the benefit of doubt on this one Mr. Romo.
I truly hope that federal agents continue to crack down on "crooked" officials from the top down. It is a great way to kickoff the war against drugs.
Easy money goes fast Mr. Padilla, many people do talk when you stop rendering salutes! "

concerned wrote on Sep 6, 2009 12:14 PM:

" This story is definately disturbing, but at the same time makes a person feel safer knowing that this corrupt man is no longer working for any law enforcement agencies. It's true that that the drug trade creeps up on anyone, even people who have taken an oath to uphold justice and the law. This is exactly why I think that the penalties should be more severe for any law enforcement officer who chooses to cross the line and become corrupt. I think that they should be made examples of when they choose to betray the oath that they have taken. They usually get off with just a slap on the wrist. Most law enforcement officers caught doing something bad are usually just forced to resign from the job, no charges are brought against them and unfortunately this means they just move away and get another job in law enforcement. This is exactly why people in these positions continue to do these things because they know that they are most likely just going to loose their job and they are probably not going to get any prison time. The courts should understand that as long as penalties continue to be leaneant, we can be sure that we will continue to see this sort of behavior in the people who are supposed defend and uphold the law. I dont know about you, but this sure doesn't give me any peace of mind. Another thing that worries me about this article is the comment by the executive assistant to the sheriff, Ramon Romo. He said that he has mixed feeling and he hopes that Cramer is able to get out of this one. (Red Flag!!!!) As a law enforcement officer, he should have said that if Cramer is innocent he hopes he gets off and if guilty he should be happy that another crooked law enforcement officer has been caught and will be brought to justice. "

mark wrote on Sep 5, 2009 11:47 AM:

" Unfortunately, having a high position doesnt make one more moral, and often works the other way. It is too bad, but the temptations of big money have to be great. I am glad I never had to worry about that. "

Dave wrote on Sep 5, 2009 10:35 AM:

" If this guy hadn't been a friend of the sheriff's dept., would the comments about him have been as sympathetic and favorable? Interesting how the police have a hard time dehumanizing one of their own, but treat everyone ese like objects that must be beaten down, humiliated and destroyed. "

Fed Up wrote on Sep 5, 2009 8:25 AM:

" Mr. Romo,
Mr. Cramer is being arraigned on federal charges of cocaine trafficking and selling informationan about federal law enforcement operations. And you "Hope He Gets Out of this One! Gee, what "Other Ones" are you referring to?

If the accusations are true, most people will hardly feel sorry for Mr. Cramer, but will see him as a disgrace to our community. "

Azteca wrote on Sep 4, 2009 7:18 PM:

" Bring back "Operation Montezumas Revenge" from the mid 80's to Identify Corrupt Hispanic Border Officials with Criminal Family ties on both sides of the Border "

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Ex lawman from Nogales is arraigned in drug case Cocaine trafficking, selling info to cartel