President Joe Biden’s top Border Patrol officials attended boozy parties in the U.S. and Mexico on behalf of a tequila magnate and international trade broker.
And now two officials are under investigation for improperly accepting lavish gifts and transportation to and from the ragers.
Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens and Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez are under investigation for possible improper disclosure of their connections to the businessmen. NBC News reports.
The two businessmen are Francisco Javier González, a Mexican tequila magnate whose grandfather founded Don Julio tequila (but who is not affiliated with the Don Julio brand), and Eduardo Garza Robles, a Mexican-American who operates a customs broker that handles international offers freight services, called Uni-handel.
Owens and Chavez were already under investigation for their relationships with the González and now officials are investigating their connections to international trading broker Robles, who introduced the three.
Border Patrol officials, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens (center) and Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Gloria Chavez (far left) are under investigation for attending booze-filled parties at Francisco Javier Gonzalez’s distillery in Mexico. Eduardo Garza Robles (right) is said to have introduced the officials to the grandson of Don Julio’s founder
According to the report, González wanted to create a Border Patrol-themed tequila for the department’s 100th anniversary, and photos on social media in February showed Owens and Chavez at his family’s distillery in Jalisco, Mexico.
The Mexican tequila maker, whose family is closely tied to the industry, owns Tequila Casa de los González.
The relationship with the tequila maker dates back to July 2023, when González hosted an event for CBP leadership in Laredo, Texas, a border city of about 250,000 residents, two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said. NBC News.
Robles, the owner of Uni-Trade who introduced Owens, Chavez and González, is a major player in the border city where his company has a major presence.
But this isn’t the first time Garza has played politics.
He was previously photographed with Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
According to the DOJ, Cuellar “allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 from Azerbaijan’s state oil company and a Mexican bank in exchange for official acts as a member of Congress.”
Also pictured is Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas.
Robles, whose company also has offices in Mexico, is so prominent that the mayor of Laredo presented him with a symbolic key to the city last year.
Eduardo Garza Robles, CEO of Uni-Trade Group, seen in this image outside Uni-Trade’s Laredo Texas office with Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn and Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar
Eduardo A. Garza Robles, CEO of Uni-Trade Group, introduced the senior Border Police officials to González
Hacienda Casa González in Jalisco, Mexico, owned by the family of Francisco Javier González. According to its website, the company currently produces 26 different tequilas
Hacienda Casa González in Jalisco, Mexico, owned by the family of Francisco Javier González, produces several tequilas and the owner wanted to make one for Border Patrol
He has also given thousands to elected officials and flown them on his corporate jet.
The report also alleges that Robles hosted an event at his Laredo ranch in July 2023 to celebrate a change in Border Patrol leadership.
The DHS Office of Inspector General is also investigating Officer Chavez’s conduct and the conduct of Uni-Trade’s CEO at the events and parties, the report said.
In October 2023, there was yet another party at the Robles ranch for Border Patrol officials from the Laredo Sector and the Rio Grande Valley Sector, overseen by Agent Chavez.
These individuals were brought to the party, listened to Robles’ remarks and enjoyed dinner while listening to a comedian, all at the expense of Uni-Trade’s CEO, the report said.
Investigators are also looking into rumors that Robles and Officer Chavez traveled together to Guadalajara, Mexico in November 2023. It is unclear who paid.
Later in December 2023, Robles hosted several Border Patrol sector chiefs and their staffs at his Laredo ranch.
They had a “Uni-Trade dinner” that lasted four hours, according to the agenda reviewed by the outlet.
Dinner show footage Robles, Border Patrol Chief Owens, Agent Chavez and former Laredo Border Patrol Chief Joel Martinez all together at a table.
Martinez was the second-highest Border Patrol official at the time.
He retired this year amid a scandal that suggested he had sexually harassed female subordinates at the agency.
The project to create a CBP tequila has been put on hold while the investigation continues
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens at the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., February 29, 2024
Gloria Chavez, U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief (left) and DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas (right) arrives at a press conference in Brownsville, Texas on May 5, 2023
In February, González hosted Robles, Owens and Garza at his Tequila Casa de los González distillery in Jalisco for the border police chief’s birthday.
The report also says González attended at least one event for Border Patrol officials hosted by Robles in Laredo. González himself said it was the December party.
The grandson of Don Julio’s founder said Border Patrol officials visited his factory on Feb. 2 to decide what type of tequila the agency wanted for its anniversary alcohol and to “see all the legal formalities that need to be done.”
González also said he had not paid officials to travel to his factory in Jalisco.
An attorney for Robles said the Uni-Trade CEO “never paid for travel or transportation expenses for Gloria Chavez or Jason Owens,” NBC News reported.
The attorney said Robles “hosted a number of celebrations at his home for various reasons, but the purpose of these celebrations related to family, friends or sporting events.”
Part of the CBP investigation into Owens and Chavez involves what Robles and/or González provided officials during their trips to the tequila distillery.
“The gala event scheduled for May 25 in El Paso celebrating the 100-year history of the Border Patrol has been canceled. All other events will continue as planned,” Owens wrote on X on Thursday.
And the plan to make a Border Patrol tequila has been put on hold as the investigation continues, the report said.
Owens’ trip to González’s tequila distillery was not paid for by the grandson of Don Julio’s founder, he said
Whatever the outcome of the investigation, CBP’s ethics codes prohibit accepting gifts from individuals who “engage in activities regulated by the employee’s agency” or have “interests that could be materially affected by the performance or otherwise of the official duties of the employee’.
CBP, DHS and Uni-Trade did not immediately return a request for comment.