BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A stunning revelation in Cameron County as two former Precinct 5 Constable’s Office deputies face serious federal charges. Benito De La Cruz Jr., 45, and Armando Gonzalez Jr., 31, have been indicted on conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and wire fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Despite still being in law enforcement, both men are no longer affiliated with Precinct 5. A federal grand jury returned a sealed 12-count indictment against them on May 28, and they were apprehended today, set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Morgan at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.
The allegations are grave: De La Cruz Jr. and Gonzalez Jr. are accused of conducting illegal license plate and criminal history checks in exchange for cash or gifts. De La Cruz faces additional charges, including five counts of making false statements to federal officers during an FBI interview regarding the scheme.
Should they be convicted, the two men could spend up to 20 years in federal prison on extortion or wire fraud charges, with a maximum penalty of five years for the conspiracy. De La Cruz also faces a potential sentence of five years for each false statement, totaling a maximum $250,000 fine.
This investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, Cameron County District Attorney’s Office, DEA, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Rangers, and the Harlingen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jody Young, Oscar Ponce, and Robert Johnson are handling the prosecution of this case.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a formal accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in accordance with due process of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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