File Under: Not Likely To Be Deterred by Gun Laws

Deputy US marshal found dead in Juarez was wanted in US

JUAREZ, Mexico -- A deputy U.S. marshal who was shot to death in Juarez was wanted in the United States, according to court documents.

The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that the body found in a Juarez canal on Wednesday was that of 48-year-old Vincent Paul Bustamante, a deputy U.S. marshal assigned to the El Paso office.

Chihuahua state police said that Bustamante died of a gunshot wound to the head.

At the time of his death Bustamante was on administrative leave. Bustamante was wanted for failure to appear in court on charges of criminal theft of public property, according to Jeff Carter, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service.

"Public property", you say?

Do tell.

According to federal records obtained by the ABC-7 I-Team, Bustamante was arrested on the theft charges March 2. He was accused of selling six government handguns, three government shotguns and a pair of government binoculars without authorization.

The charges required that Bustamante's weapon, credentials and badges be retained by his supervisor outside of work hours, Carter said.

I don't want to speculate before all the facts are in, but this sounds to me like a drastic failure in the business associate selection process.