Mid suspected of smuggling pot

Christcorp said:
Why do you say "Not Looking Good"? In my opinion; which doesn't mean a whole lot; the TRUTH is ALWAYS the best thing. And "IF" this midshipman did in fact smuggle 100+ pounds of pot and break into someone's else at gun point and stole $12,000 and drugs; then I WANT to see him get the max sentence. It also shows "GOOD" for the Navy for not putting up with such crap and/or trying to cover it up to save face. I think it "Looks Good". There are times when people; young and old; screw up. And when you screw up, sometimes catching a break and some leniency is appropriate. Smuggling 100+ pounds of pot, B&E, burglary, assault, etc... are NOT SCREW UPs. Those are intentional. So "IF" he is found guilty; and "IF" he can not come up with some legitimate excuse like his Mom is dying of cancer and he did this because he needed the money for an operation; (Or something similar); then the best thing the Navy can do is maintain it's long standing level of integrity and honor, and prosecute to the extent of the law. Then those paying the bills (The American Tax Payers) will know that their military has honor and does not cover up the truth when trash like this midshipman (Assuming he's found guilty) tries to infiltrate our military.
Click to expand...

Of course you are correct in that it is good for the military to act on this and not cover it up. I'm sure usna mom agrees also. I think what she meant by it doesn't look good is just to mean that it appears to be what it appears to be. I'm sure she, like I and am sure others all hope when we see things like this, that there is an innocent explanation and the mid is a victim also.

So I agree, it doesn't look good for him, he's apparently not a victim of this. And I agree with you, that it's nice to see the military handle it the way they are.

I remember in '83 we had an RV rental shop in San Diego just off 32nd Street. A bunch of Marines and Sailors were always renting RV's on 96'ers and taking it down to mexico and enjoying the beaches. Of course to enjoy the beach meant to travel about an hour or so south of Tijuana. Anyhow, at one point an RV was inspected coming back across the border and drugs were found. All Marines on board were shocked and up to this point had been hard chargers with a great record. Further investigation found they were innocent. There was a drug ring at the RV rental shop that was stashing the drugs in a hidden compartment while the Marines were in the water. The investigation done by NIS (they weren't called NCIS yet) involved checking all of the vehicles at the rental shop, not just the one the Marines had rented.

At the time Marines and Sailors weren't checked at the border very often, and after this event, I don't know about the Sailors, but Marines were not allowed to rent vehicles and take it across the border.

I guess this is a long way to say, when I first saw the posting about the mid getting busted, I had hoped it was similar situation as the Marines back in '83. Unfortunately, it doesn't look good that it'll be that kind of turnout.

JB
 
Christcorp - I agree with your post. I am definitely all for the truth. I am also for full punishment for a crime.
What I meant was, So there is more to the story.
I was hoping for something more like what JB described. I figured if the mid was in San Diego for training, could it have been a rental car? or someone elses? As it turns out he is from Southern Calif, so it could very well be his own car. I was kind of hoping that he was set up and he is innocent. That could still be the case, but it isn't looking good so far.
I know my mid was briefed to not go to Mexico. I had even seen on the news, here in northern Calif, that military members were being told not to go into Mexico.
 
In '91 we had a week of block leave, and I took off out of the area. We had orders to "NOT" even approach the border.

When we returned I was standing in front of my platoon and they were counting off, and I was surprised that we had 100% attendance.

Later I had a couple of L/CPL's come up to me and tell me how "great" my brother is. I said, I don't recall you Marines meeting my brother. They were calm and cool, and only said, we meet him during leave. Right about then, the Capt came out to greet the whole company, just I took my pos. and let it drop.

About a week later, I shot down to see my brother and his family (he was a squid at Miramar at the time).

He told me that during our block leave he got a collect call from Mexico to get 4 Marines out of jail. They were mine. They had asked him to not tell me anything, and they were afraid to call anyone from Pendleton because of the standing orders to stay away from the border.

Needless to say, they learned brothers talk. They had firewatch for the next 6 weekends.

Turns out the only thing they did wrong was go to Mexico. They ended up in jail for not having enough money to bribe the federalies. It was public knowlege there were orders to not come, so it was easy money for them. Pay up or call your unit and tell them where you are.

To my knowlege, these standing orders have been in place almost continuously since then.

JB
 
14 July Navy News release on San Diego mid & marijuana case

From my Navy News clip service:

Navy Midshipman Accused of Drugs, Weapons Charges
Navy News Service, July 14, 2009, From Commander, Navy Region Southwest

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Juan Domingo Alonso, 24, of North Hollywood, Calif., has been charged by the Navy with various counts of armed robbery, burglary, drug offenses, conspiracy, and other charges.

Alonso, a midshipman from the U.S. Naval Academy, was detained June 10 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for allegedly trying to smuggle marijuana across the border at San Ysidro, Calif.

He was returned to Navy custody following the incident, and has been held in pretrial confinement at the Navy Brig in Miramar.

Alonso has been charged with two specifications of conspiracy; two specifications of orders violations; seven specifications of drug charges, including importation, possession, and wrongful distribution; armed robbery; burglary; three weapons offenses; and conduct unbecoming an officer.

An investigative Article 32 hearing for Alonso will be held in the coming weeks. During the hearing a military investigating officer will hear evidence to evaluate the charges and evidence.

Alonso was in San Diego for a Naval Academy summer training program.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service continues to investigate the charges; it is inappropriate to speculate on or provide further details regarding the accusations.
END OF CLIP
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For those unfamiliar with an Article 32 hearing, it serves the same purpose as a civilian grand jury. Pre-trial confinement (remand) is indicated in cases where flight risk is a concern.
 
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