U.S. AGENCIES DISCUSS BORDER CAR THEFT CASE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303200054-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 54
• Publication Date: March 27, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/29: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303200054-6
U.S. Agencies
Discuss Border, 1
Car Theft Case
SAN DIEGO UNION (CA)
27 MARCH 1982
bility of a negotiated plea arrange-
ment wherein !Vassar would admit at
least some of the charges without
having to stand trial in the United
States.
Kennedy's office yesterday re-
ferred all inquiries to the Justice De-
partment. A spokesman there
ave
g
By JON STANDEFER - only a terse "no comment" when
asked about the meeting.
CIA and Justice Department offi- It was learned earlier in the week
ciais met yesterday in Washington to that the CIA's position regarding
decide whether to allow the U.S. at- I Nassar was that, once Nassar re-
torney's office here to prosecute the signed as DFS head, the CIA had no
former head of Mexico's federal se-.1 further interest in blocking prusecu-
curity police, acco'17fi`g to. sources in i
the capital.
U.S. Attorney William Kennedy.
has been trying for. four months to,.~
get approval to indict Miguel Nassap
Haro, 52, for his- invglvement in a
massive car theft ring broken up by !
the FBI here.
Nassar until last month headed the
Direccion Federal de Seguridad.
(DFS), Mexico's' top coun-
terespionage and anti-terrorist po-
lice agency,
The Justice Department has
blocked an indictment because the i
CIA considered Nassar an indispensi.
ble source of intelligence informa.
tion in Mexico and Central America.
Washington sources said the meet-
.ing included discussion of the ppssi-
tion.
However, it was also learned that
the FBI legal attache in Mexico- City
was continuing to urge that Nassar
not be prosecuted.
The U.S. attorney's office here
gathered evidence of Nassar's in-
volvement in the car theft ring dur-
ing the 10-month investigation by the
FBI and California Highway Patrol.
Fourteen members of the gang
were arrested here last July, includ-.
ing three DFS agents. All have beery
convicted. Another 14 persons were
indicted but are irn Mexico and thus
out of reach of U.S. authorities.
The FBI estimates that the. ring
was responsible for the thefts of G00
cars in Southern California, worth ail
estimated $8.4 million.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/29: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303200054-6