ELSA CITY POLICE OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO ACCEPTING BRIBE

McALLEN, Texas – An Elsa police officer pleaded guilty for accepting money to provide protection for a drug load, announced U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle today.

Ismael Gomez, 27, of Elsa, Texas, and formerly an Elsa City police officer, was indicted on Oct. 24, 2006, for using his official position as an officer of the Elsa City Police Department to protect a vehicle he believed was transporting narcotics.

On April 24, 2006, Gomez knowingly obtained approximately $2,500 from an FBI informant as a down payment for escorting narcotics through his jurisdiction.

Following the money exchange, Gomez escorted the FBI informant’s vehicle on a public highway and through the jurisdiction of the Elsa Police Department. The FBI informant told Officer Gomez that he was transporting 10 kilograms of cocaine, though no cocaine was in the informant’s vehicle. The escort by Officer Gomez was to avoid detection by other law enforcement.

The defendant was allowed to remain on bond pending his sentencing, which is set for March 7, 2007. Gomez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, without parole, a $250,000 fine and a three year term of supervised release.

The prosecution is the result of a continuing investigation conducted by the McAllen office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim McAlister and Jimmy Leo are prosecuting the case.