Jorge Hank Rhon, Former Tijuana Mayor, Could Face Organized Crime Charges After Weapons Discovery

TIJUANA, Mexico -- Mexican prosecutors say they are considering organized crime charges against a Tijuana gambling magnate who is accused of keeping 88 guns in his house.

The Attorney General's Office says it will hold former Tijuana Mayor Jorge Hank Rhon and 10 of his employees and associates for another two days while officials weigh the charges.

Hank Rhon was arrested Saturday. Soldiers say they found 40 rifles, 48 handguns, 9,298 bullets, 70 ammunition clips and a gas grenade at his home.

Hank Rhon says in a letter published Monday that the guns weren't his and he had never seen them before.

Comments

[CristobalAriztizabal]

10:48 PM on 06/14/2011

Allegations over the years that the Hanks have been major players in Mexico's narco-economy have credibility. El Dedoso amassed a huge (un-countable) fortune on no more than $90,000 a year as a public (PRI) servant, and was often quoted: "A poor politician is a poor politician." It is believed that the younger Hanks ran for office to avoid indictment, since Mexican law enables that safe harbour. These guys are anything but clean.

[dhinds]

12:28 AM on 06/08/2011

The arrest of Jorge Hank Rhon is clearly a politically motivated event, timed to coincide with the fiercely contested elections scheduled for next month in the State of Mexico, which surrounds Mexico City and has both the largest population and most extensive industrial base in the nation.

The Hanks are one of Mexico's most powerful political families, are associated with the PRI and based in the State of Mexico. Also the current Governor of that stateis the front runner for the PRI's candidacy for President and Federal Elections will be held next year.

The PAN (Calderon's party) is desperate since their performance in government has been widely repudiated.

Were some or all the guns planted, as Jorge Hank Rhon claims? (Hank Rhon's investments in Tijuana include the Aguascalientes Hippodrome Race Track, where considerable cash flows daily).

The PAN believes that by discrediting the PRI their possibilities for winning the state and federal elections will improve. I think it's going to take a lot more than that.

Many unanswered questions remain: Why was the Army used to enter the house of Tijuana's ex-Mayor at 3 am (while the family was asleep) is just one of them.

Another relevant issue is the fact that no search warrant was presented and the invaders all wore ski masks.

The family was reportedly dragged out of bed and stood up against a wall (but facing it). They claim that when they turned around there was a large pile of guns on the floor.

[dhinds]

12:32 AM on 06/08/2011

Given the nature of Hank Rhon's work (he is an Industrial Engineer and along with his brother Carlos, took over the family's businesses - aside from the operation of the race track, he owns hotels, shopping centers and gambling casinos in 19 states), it would not be surprising to learn that they owned a considerable number of guns. But to have that many at home is highly unlikely.

IMO this act demonstrates that the PAN will do anything and everything to remain in power.

I've resided in Jalisco (a state governed by the PAN) for 37 years (over half my life) and can state unequivocally that since the PAN took over about 16 years ago, life has become worse for the vast majority. The state's criminal justice system has become totally corrupted (even worse that it was previously) and the PAN's politicians are directly responsible for overpopulating the city and exploiting their offices for private gain.

I know many of them personally and can prove this.

They are incapable of resolving the nations difficulties and unwilling to let anyone else do the job that needs to be done.

[dhinds]

07:26 PM on 06/07/2011

The arrest of Jorge Hank Rhon is clearly a politically motivated event, timed to coincide with the fiercely contested elections scheduled for next month in the State of Mexico, which surrounds Mexico City and has both the largest population of any state and the most extensive industrial base in the nation.

The Hank family represents one of Mexico's most powerful and well known political families and has it's base, precisely in the State of Mexico, associated with the PRI.

Furthermore, the current Governor of Edomex (as the state is called) is the front runner for the PRI's candidacy for President and Federal Elections will be held next year.

The PAN (Calderon's party) is frantic since their performance in government has been widely repudiated.

Were some or all the guns planted, as Jorge Hank Rhon claims? (Hank Rhon's investments in Tijuana include the Aguascalientes Hippodrome Race Track, where considerable cash flows have to be protected).

The PAN believes that by discrediting the PRI their possibilities for winning the state and federal elections will improve. I think it's going to take a lot more than that.

Many unanswered questions remain: Why was the Army used to enter the house of Tijuana's ex-Mayor at 3 am (while the family was asleep) is just one of them.

[dhinds]

08:07 PM on 06/07/2011

Another relevant issue is the fact that no search warrant was presented and the invaders all wore ski masks.

The family was reported dragged out of bed and stood up against a wall (but facing it). They claim that when they turned back around there was a large pile of guns on the floor.

Given the nature of Hank Rhon's work (he is an Industrial Engineer and along with his brother Carlos, took over the family's business'), it would not be surprising to learn that they owned a number of guns. But to have that many at home is highly unlikely.

(Along with the operation of the race track, he owns hotels, shopping centers and gambling casinos in 19 states).

IMO this act demonstrates that the PAN will do anything and everything to remain in power.

I've resided in Jalisco (a state governed by the PAN) for 37 years (over half my life) and can state unequivocally that since the PAN took over 16 years ago, life has become worse for the vast majority. The state justice system has become totally corrupted (even worse that it was previously) and the PAN's politicians are directly responsible for overpopulating the city and exploiting their offices for private gain.

I know many of them personally and can prove this.

They are incapable of resolving the nations difficulties and unwilling to let anyone else do the job that needs to be done.

The battle has begun.

[dhinds]

01:34 AM on 06/08/2011

Looks like a little repetition here. I corrected a few typos and HuffPo pulled the posts so I reposted them.

[AZreb]

08:57 AM on 06/07/2011

Gonna hold them for two more days - now we will see if charges are brought against them or if this story, like others of crackdowns, will fade into the sunset.

[osofar]

07:34 PM on 06/06/2011

Whe will the USA's national "leaders" face organized crime charges?

[Kenz300]

06:18 PM on 06/06/2011

The Mexican people deserve a better government than they have had for decades. The crime and corruption of the police and government officials has gone on for too long and has been accepted by the Mexican people. The people need to stand up and demand better from their government and police. It is time for the government to provide a safer society with jobs for its people. Exporting its people is not an economic plan for the country. Mexico has wealth concentrated in the top 2% of the people. There is little or no middle class. Mexican people deserve better and need to demand better from their leaders.

[osofar]

07:35 PM on 06/06/2011

The USA is working mightily to have all wealth concentrated in the top 2%'s hands as well.

[AZreb]

08:56 AM on 06/07/2011

Couldn't this be said of our own country? With the exception of our police, sheriff's departments - I still have some faith in them.

[addisonsteele]

05:26 PM on 06/06/2011

Hardly surprising. At one point, every mayor and every police chief in one of Mexico's states were members of one of the cartels.