FBI investigating Oliveira for gun brought on plane

By GILBERTO SALINAS

HARLINGEN The FBI is investigating state Rep. Rene Oliveira for trying to

board a flight with a loaded .38-caliber gun at Valley International Airport

in Harlingen, according to airport authorities.

FBI and airport police briefly detained and questioned Oliveira on Thursday

afternoon. No charges have been filed against the state representative from

Brownsville, according to a Federal Aviation Administration report.

We consider all security breaches very serious. It will be investigated by

FAA security, said Roland Herwig, spokesman for the FAAs Southwest Region in

Fort Worth.

I was in a hurry, Oliveira said Tuesday. I was in a rush to make my flight,

I mistakenly thought I removed the pistol from the bag in my car. I

regretfully had not.

Oliveira walked through the second-floor security checkpoint at 1:25 p.m. for

a 1:30 p.m. flight when one of the guards noticed through the security

screener the gun inside Oliveiras black tote bag, the report stated.

After admitting to ownership of the gun, Oliveira told airport officials he

forgot he had placed the gun in his bag, the report stated.

The .38-Special, for which Oliveira did not have a permit, had five bullets in

its cylinder, officials said.

Oliveira declined to comment on the details of his detention, but emphasized

there were no charges pressed against him.

If I had done something wrong, they obviously would have arrested me,

Oliveira said. I cannot comment any further per instruction from law

enforcement authorities (whore trying) to protect me and my family.

Oliveira said he has been carrying a handgun due to death threats he has

received recently, the report stated.

Because of specific threats made against me, I have had to take this

extraordinary action. I do not condone nor normally carry a firearm, however,

I am forced to react to these specific threats, Oliveira said.

The state representative and lawyer has been staying in McAllen, where he is

attending a trial. On March 14, Oliveira took the gun from his car and placed

it in the tote bag because he was going to cross into Mexico, he said.

On Thursday, he drove to the Harlingen airport to catch an afternoon flight to

Austin but said he forgot about the handgun in his bag.

Hes on a super hectic trial schedule and hes got all of the charges (in

Austin) as well, said Anthony Gray, Oliveiras assistant in the state

capital. He didnt realize it was there. It was a small innocent deal.

FBI agent Andy Muiz told Oliveira he may be subject to a $10,000 fine and at

this time there would be no charges filed against him.

Oliveira did not try to circumvent the (security) procedures at the airport.

There is nothing negative of this unfortunate event, said the airports

director, Jon E. Mathiasen.

Oliveira was not arrested because airport police found no criminal intent,

Mathiasen said.

Was he treated differently than anyone else, absolutely not, Mathiasen said.

It can happen to you and me, but Im sure he will not forget again.

Herwig said the offense can lead to arrest.

Its not that common, but it happens, Herwig said.

Oliveira was released from the custody of authorities an hour later.

Airport police have confiscated the gun and ammunition until the FBI clears

its release, officials said.

Lt. Espiridion Leal of the Harlingen Police Department said his agency didnt

get involved in the incident.

The police department only gets involved in cases where the suspect is charged

with weapons possession, Leal said.

Unless we are called, thats their investigation, said Danny Castillo,

Harlingens interim police chief.

Mathiasen said security officers at Valley International Airport confiscate

between six and a dozen weapons each month, ranging from handguns to hunting

rifles and knives.

With the change in Texas law, the number of apprehensions have gone up,

Mathiasen said.

In more than 10 years that Mathaisen has been at the airport, no one has been

charged for possession of a handgun or violently using a weapon at the

airport, he said.

In my years here, theres never been, to my knowledge, an arrest, because

there hasnt been intent, he said. We have people who carry guns, especially

after the concealed weapon law was passed a couple of years ago.

The Valley Morning Star contributed to this report.