Private investigator first to admit guilt in offering bribes to get drunk drivers off the hook

A private investigator involved in a corruption scandal that rocked New Mexico law enforcement for more than a decade was the first to plead guilty to a series of federal charges including racketeering and bribery, according to court records released Friday.

Ricardo Mendez participated in a one year program between a law firm he worked for that specialized in defending people accused of drunk driving and the Albuquerque Police Department, the New Mexico State Police and the Sheriff’s Office of Bernalillo County. Mendez admitted that since 2008, he gave gifts and thousands of dollars in bribes to agents in exchange for dismissing his clients’ cases.

“I admit that, since at least 2008, this DWI scheme in which I participated constituted a business (the DWI business) that engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity that included multiple acts of corruption, subject to charges under New Mexico state law, as well as multiple acts of corruption. acts of interference with commerce through extortion,” Mendez wrote in his plea.

Dubbed the drunk driving enterprise, the program would allow offenders who drive drunk to get away scot-free, prosecutors said.

The clients would pay Mendez or his associate attorney fees in cash, according to court records. Mendez would then pay the officers in cash – $5,000 or more – or in the form of gifts or legal services to not appear in court as a necessary witness to the driving incident, resulting in the dismissal of the charge. case, according to court records.

As the scheme continued, officers began referring DWI cases to Mendez and his associate seeking higher payouts.

“I accept that when drivers avoid criminal culpability for DWI, they become more likely to drive drunk in the future and, the more drunk a person drives, the more likely they are to have an accident ” Mendez said in his plea.

According to documents obtained by the Albuquerque Journalthe investigation began following a stop by one of the police officers in August 2023. He allegedly told the driver that he needed to contact a specific lawyer who, if hired, would ensure that the police would not file a complaint in court.

Prosecutors recommended a reduced prison sentence for Mendez as part of the plea deal.

Officers from the Albuquerque Police Department had the largest share of members, according to Mendez’s admission.

Albuquerque Police Department Police Chief Harold Medina committed to an internal investigation last February. Since then, a dozen officers have resigned and been placed in administrative detention leavewas fired or was temporarily reassigned under a DWI schedule from Albuquerque Police Department Communications Director Gilbert Gallegos. Dozens of cases have been rejected.

The Albuquerque Police Department has made administrative changes, including the creation of a DWI unit manual.

A deputy with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office was placed on administrative leave last Thursday.

“Corruption has no place in law enforcement and BCSO will cooperate fully with its federal partners,” said Sheriff John Allen, who also confirmed he has been in contact with the FBI regarding the involvement alleged member of parliament in this scheme.

Mendez’s lawyer and Gallegos did not immediately respond to requests for comment.