Firefighter linked to cartel dismissed

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Albuquerque firefighter arrested for his alleged role in a drug ring linked to a Mexican cartel was fired Friday.

Albuquerque Fire Department Chief James Breen said the official reason for firing Steve Chavez is that he has been absent without leave for the last two weeks.

That's because he's locked up in jail since federal drug agents raided homes and rounded up suspects on Jan. 26.

And, since he was AWOL, he has not been paid for those two weeks.

Agents arrested Chavez and 12 others believed to be members of a major drug-trafficking and money-laundering operation connected to the Sinaloa cartel.

On Friday Breen said today Chavez should have never been a firefighter in the first place.

He'd been arrested several times before he was hired, and in an AFD background check had admitted to selling drugs in the past, the chief said.

"There were seven traffic violations; four he failed to appear in court," Breen said. "He was caught using fraudulent identification, he was cited for shoplifting, and admitted to selling marijuana for easy money.

"Mr. Chavez was hired in 2004 and would have not been offered employment with the fire department given the standards set by the current administration."

The chief says the feds have assured him they don't believe any other firefighters are connected to the drug ring.

He also says after an investigation they now believe Chavez wasn't doing anything illegal while he was on the job.

Previously statements had said Chavez was on duty when bank transactions tied to the ring took place.