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Hispanic Motorists Targeted in Brazen Scam
Lowndes County, GA – A shocking indictment has unveiled a scheme in which Hispanic motorists were subjected to unlawful traffic stops, extorted, and even robbed, all with the alleged blessing of a former sheriff’s deputy.
According to the indictment, Miguel Angel Reyes and Gloria Gallego conspired with former Lowndes County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Stacks to use his law enforcement authority to violate the civil rights of Hispanic motorists. The scheme, which is alleged to have taken place in Lowndes County, involved Stacks stopping motorists, threatening them with arrest and deportation, and demanding money in exchange for their freedom.
One motorist, identified as T.C., was allegedly stopped and forced to pay $300 to avoid arrest and deportation. Another motorist, E.B., was detained without probable cause or reasonable suspicion, allowing Stacks and Reyes to facilitate a robbery of E.B.’s home.
The indictment charges Reyes and Gallego with conspiracy to violate the civil rights of Hispanic motorists, as well as substantive civil rights charges related to the unlawful stops and extortion. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, while the substantive charges carry a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment each.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. The matter is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Risa Berkower of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The shocking allegations have raised questions about the corruption within the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the need for greater accountability in law enforcement agencies across the country.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Public Corruption|Civil Rights Violations
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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