. >> reporter: siggy gonzalez was the sheriff in zapata, texas, and oversaw the investigation of theey incident. he has retired since our interview. >> i remember when i started as a deputy sheriff back in the 1970s, where this was used for drug trafficking. human trafficking. being used like that forever. >> reporter: and lately, even before the hartleys' trip to falcon lake, gonzalez says a new threat has emerged. pirates. >> totally inaccurate. definition of piracy a lot different than what i know it to be. had one robbery on the lake totally. >> reporter: robert speedy colette who owns a fishing lodge here admits he's been stopped by drug cartel members but he also bristles at news reports of piracy and danger. these reports have decimated his business on the lake, which he insists is safe, as long as you know the rules. >> it happened to me. i didn't run. they boarded. they found out i wasn't a threat, and i was released. never robbed. never took a penny from me. they did not -- my wallet was in my glove box. i had $1,100 in my wallet. my clients were pretty wealthy people. they