Bond denied for fortune teller who owned home where remains found

McALLEN — A federal magistrate judge ordered a Santeria fortune teller held without bond Monday on charges he illegally kept firearms in his home.

Authorities found two weapons and several boxes of ammunition in a closet while searching a residence owned by Ruben Ambrosio Fonseca Jr. last month.

Fonseca had completed a federal sentence for drug possession earlier this year and is prohibited by law from owning guns because of his felony record.

"This court’s biggest concern is your criminal history," U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos said in explaining her bond decision to Fonseca. "You just got off supervised release in April."

During a detention hearing Monday, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Elias Escalon described the long-range rifle and 12-gauge shotgun investigators found locked in a safe the building but gave little indication what drew authorities there in the first place.

Some law enforcement officials have said Fonseca sold 183 grenades manufactured in the house to undercover agents posing as members of the Gulf Cartel.

But the federal agencies investigative agencies leading the case have not officially confirmed those allegations, leading Fonseca’s attorney to question Monday the government’s unwillingness to agree to a bond for his client.

Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon is a third-degree felony that is usually prosecuted in state district court, attorney Ruben Ramirez said.

"In the 20 years that I’ve been involved in this work, I’ve never seen the government push so hard for no bond," he said.

Agents also discovered other disturbing items during their Oct. 28 search of the house on the 600 block of Citrus Street including a blood-stained altar, a Rio Grande City police officer’s badge and human and animal remains — all believed to be items used in the practice of Palo Mayombe, a branch of the Caribbean Santeria religion that blends elements of Catholicism and tribal African beliefs.

The bones turned out to have been purchased from a Web site selling skeletons of humans and small animals, but Fonseca’s relatives said Monday it was not unusual for him to need such items in conducting his business.

The father of four had worked for years as a santero — a Santeria priest — and had supported his family on money he made by telling people’s fortunes.

"If someone wants to know something, he throws — I don’t know what — and he tells them the future," his father, Ruben Sr. said. "He has several clients."

As of late Monday night, the younger Fonseca remained in the custody of U.S. Marshals.

Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.