Firefighter in drug case jailed till trial

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque firefighter charged as part of a ring dealing drugs and laundering money with connections to a Mexican drug cartel will stay behind bars until he goes to trial.

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled Steve Chavez, 32, shouldn't be released because of what was found in his home and car.

Chavez, in a Lobos sweatshirt and handcuffs, asked a judge to release him.

His crying wife and one firefighter even took the stand to say Chavez is a good man.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested Chavez last week along with 10 others in a major drug trafficking and money laundering operation.

The indictment alleges Chavez's role included shuffling nearly $350,000 in drug money in and out of bank accounts over several weeks last summer.

The feds searched his home where they said they found several loaded guns in the attic. They also reported finding an Uzi-style gun in Chavez's car along with an ounce of cocaine.

The feds added Chavez was dealing because he tested negative for drugs.

The judge said he was concerned about the drugs and types of guns found.

He was also worried that Chavez and other defendants had been spying on DEA at their offices.

A DEA agent testified Tuesday that Chavez talked about that after he was taken in for questioning.

But, Chavez's attorney says a lot still needs to be sorted out.

"One thing you heard agent say was he didn't have that conversation recorded, or if he did, he doesn't know if the recording is still here," Chavez's attorney Jason Bowles said. "We don't know exactly what was said."

The feds are still looking for four fugitives in the case: Homero Varela, Manuel Villa-Mayorquin, Procoro Roberto-Alvarez, and Ramón Gonzalez.

The feds say Chavez' wife was just as stunned as others who love Chavez and that he was leading a double life.

Chavez attorney said he plans on appealing the decision not release his client.

Chavez was placed on administrative assignment at the fire department but is considered absent without leave because he's in jail and hasn't reported to duty.