Latest Legal News from the Federal Criminal Courts in the United States

May 2 , 2007

FORMER ELSA CITY POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ACCEPTING MONEY TO PROTECT DRUG LOAD

(MCALLEN, TX) A former Elsa City Police Officer has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for accepting bribes to provide protection for drug loads, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle and Special Agent Ralph G. Diaz, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today.

Ismael Gomez, 27, of Elsa, Texas and formerly an Elsa City Police Officer was convicted in December 2006 after pleading guilty to receiving approximately $2500 in April 2006 to use his official position to protect a vehicle he believed to be transporting ten (10) kilograms of cocaine. Today, before United States District Judge Randy Crane pronounced sentence, Gomez apologized to the court for his criminal conduct. Thereafter, the court ordered Gomez to serve 96 months in federal prison, without parole.

After completing the prison term, Gomez has been further sentenced to serve a four year term of supervised release. Gomez was indicted by a McAllen grand jury in October 2006 and soon thereafter released on bond. Today, Gomez was ordered into the federal custody to begin serving his sentence.

Gomez is the second former Elsa City Police officer convicted for receiving money to provide protection for vehicles represented to be transporting contraband. Herman Carr , 45, of Donna, Texas was indicted in a separate and unrelated case in September 2006 for using his official position as an officer of the Elsa City Police Department to protect a vehicle loaded with narcotics in exchange for money. Carr pled guilty to receiving approximately $5000 in exchange for using his position as a police officer to provide protection for a vehicle he believed to be transporting five kilograms of cocaine on August 1, 2006. Carr is pending sentencing on May 31, 2007.

The prosecutions of Gomez and Carr are the result of an investigation conducted by the McAllen office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jim McAlister of the Houston Division and Jimmy Leo of the McAllen Division prosecuting the case.