Sheriff warns of cartel-fighting militia recruitment

Dubois County Sheriff Donny Lampert issued a warning and advisory to area residents regarding recruitment efforts by militia groups.

According to Lampert, these groups are located in South Texas and propagate the belief that their members are fighting the invasive efforts of the drug cartel along the Mexico and U.S. border.

Lampert stated he has at least three confirmed reports of individuals leaving the area to join the militia believing they are fighting drug cartel efforts.

“I have received reports of young men and women in their teens and twenties leaving Dubois County to be recruited by militia groups in south Texas,” he said in a statement today. “They are receiving very minimal training and being armed with assault rifles.”

Through information provided by the Texas Rangers, the sheriff’s department has learned that these groups are radical and have even been involved in confrontations with law enforcement in Texas.

“They are not associated with any law enforcement or United States military group operating in South Texas,” Lampert said. “It is the job of the federal government to protect our borders.”

He also asked the public to notify the sheriff’s department with information regarding anyone who has joined these “rogue” groups.

“We will notify the Texas Rangers to locate and send them back home due to the extreme danger they are in,” he said.“Our young men and women of Dubois County need to get jobs and let the officials there take care of that situation.”

The sheriff’s department can be contacted at 812-482-3522. All callers may remain anonymous.