Federal documents have revealed new details in a DWI scandal in Albuquerque involving the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State Police. FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda and Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina provided updates on the federal investigation in a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. The investigation involves officers and deputies from the three law enforcement agencies, along with attorney Thomas Clear III and private investigator Ricardo Mendez, in a scheme to dismiss DWI cases in exchange for money.
Mendez pleaded guilty to multiple charges in federal court on Jan. 24, making him the first to plead guilty since the corruption scandal was uncovered in 2024. The case is suspected to go back as far as 2008, with allegations of deliberate failures to appear at court hearings associated with DWI-related arrests. As part of the investigation, 12 former DWI officers from APD have been placed on leave, with ten facing resignation, retirement, or termination.
New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler released a statement condemning the behavior outlined in the federal documents, and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a deputy, Jeff Hammerel, was placed on administrative leave in connection to the investigation. The FBI is urging anyone with information related to the DWI scandal to come forward.
The investigation is ongoing, with efforts being made to hold all involved parties accountable and ensure that those implicated never carry a badge again. The FBI and law enforcement agencies are cooperating to investigate the extent of the corruption and take appropriate action against those involved.
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