Leopoldo Perrault Benitez, Immigration Bribery, Texas 2024
HOUSTON, Texas - A brazen scheme to lift immigration detainers on illegal aliens in custody has landed a Houston bail bondsman and three others in hot water. Leopoldo Perrault Benitez, 53, the owner of A Way Out Bail Bonds in Houston, has been accused of paying off a former federal officer to facilitate the release of immigrants in ICE custody.
According to the indictment, the bribery scheme spanned from April 2023 to March 2024. Benitez allegedly paid Jose Angel Muniz, a 51-year-old deportation officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), to lift immigration detainers on individuals in ICE custody awaiting removal. Muniz's co-defendants include Anthony Benitez, 32, Leopoldo's son, and Isaac Sierra, 51, who worked at International Bonding Company.
The indictment alleges that the three bail bondsmen paid Muniz in exchange for his assistance in lifting immigration detainers, allowing the individuals in question to be released from custody. If convicted, all four face up to 15 years in prison and a fine equal to the equivalent value of the bribes offered and received or $250,000, whichever is greater.
The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of corruption by federal officers extremely seriously, particularly those entrusted with keeping our border secure and nation safe, said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. There is no room whatsoever for bribery or side deals when it comes to immigration enforcement.
ICE - Office of Professional Responsibility, FBI and Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Benitez and his co-defendants made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray, at which time the indictment was unsealed. They were ordered into custody pending further criminal proceedings. The case is set to proceed in federal court.
Defendant/Respondent: Leopoldo Perrault Benitez
Criminal Charges: Bribery and corruption of a federal officer
City and State: Houston, Texas
Exact Date: June 24, 2024
Sentence or Outcome: Pending
Dollar Amounts: Up to $250,000 fine or equivalent value of bribes
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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