Woman tied to gang case worked in federal office

By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 02/12/2008 12:00:00 AM MST

A woman suspected of being an associate of the Barrio Azteca gang worked for years in the Federal Public Defender's office in El Paso raising questions as to whether the gang was able to infiltrate federal offices.

Sandy Valles New, 57, worked as a paralegal and in the investigations section in the El Paso office from 1996 to 2002, Federal Public Defender Henry J. Bemporad confirmed Monday.

Bemporad, whose office in San Antonio oversees federal defenders in the Western District of Texas, said that he wasn't in charge of the office at the time of New's employment but that all employees must pass FBI and IRS background checks.

Bemporad said he could not comment further pending more information about the allegations against New, who was arrested last week as part of a federal racketeering case targeting members and associates of the Barrio Azteca gang.

FBI agents believe that New, also known as "Guera" (blonde) and "Cuñada" (sister-in-law), has been an associate of the prison-based gang since 2000, FBI spokeswoman Special Agent Andrea Simmons said.