Drug cartels recruiting soldiers?

A recent news report says Mexican drug cartels are recruiting from the military ranks.

An article on FOXNews.com is sounding the alarm on drug cartels recruiting hit men from the Army. The article makes its case on the apprehension of three former Army soldiers in the last several years.

Michael Jackson Apodaca, a former Army private first class, was sentenced to life in prison July 25 for a contract killing. He was recruited by a drug cartel for the hit. (EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)

FOXNews.com mentions the recent sentencing of Michael Apodaca, a private first class who was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. He did a hit for a drug cartel and was sentenced to life in prison July 25. Apodaca was first arrested for the contract killing in 2009.

The article also mentions a former Fort Carson, Colo., Army lieutenant, Kevin Corley, who pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. He was arrested, along with an active-duty soldier, in a sting operation.

One thing the article gets wrong: Samuel Walker, the active-duty sergeant who along with Corley tried to hire themselves out as hit men, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, not actual murder-for-hire. It turns out that the drug cartel member Walker thought he was talking to was actually a Drug Enforcement Administration agent.

Have you heard stories of drug cartels actively recruiting soldiers as hit men? Or are these stand-alone cases? Leave your comments below.