Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens pictured smoking a cigar alongside Francisco Javier González, grandson of the founder of Don Julio Tequila. (Photo: MindMexico/Instagram)
Two high-ranking U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials are reportedly under investigation for their relationship with Mexican tequila maker Francisco Javier González, grandson of the founder of Don Julio Tequila.
On Wednesday, NBC News reported that Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens and Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Gloria Chavez are being probed by the agency's internal watchdog for a trip to González's distillery documented in February. Sources say that the visit may have violated ethics rules if the officials failed to disclose their relationship with a foreign national, a requirement for those with top security clearance.
Photos posted on Instagram show the pair sipping drinks and smoking cigars at an event hosted by MindMexico, a Guadalajara-based think tank aimed at the Mexican industrial sector.
During their visit, Owens and Chavez reportedly discussed plans with González to make a Border Patrol-themed tequila in honor of the agency's 100th anniversary. The idea has since been scrapped amid the ongoing investigation.
The post was captioned:
"With these visits, we seek that through the exchange of opinions and objectives, the industrial sector of Jalisco and International Organizations find the best strategies that benefit the promotion of trends, in favor of a large-scale modernization of national companies."
The relationship between Owens and González dates back to July 2023, according to NBC. Last summer, the tequila magnate reportedly hosted an event for CBP leaders in Laredo, Texas, a four-hour flight from his distillery in Guadalajara.
Owens is one of the highest-ranking officials in the U.S. Border Patrol, taking over the position of Chief Officer from Raul Ortiz last June. Records show that he's worked with the agency since 1996. Chavez, who joined the agency in 1995, has served as Rio Grande Sector Chief since March 2020.
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