A shocking case of corruption within law enforcement has come to light in McAllen, Texas, as former police officer Michael Gallegos-Martinez was sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Gallegos-Martinez, a 45-year-old San Juan resident, pleaded guilty to the charges on December 3, 2024.
On June 25, 2023, Gallegos-Martinez was driving a Cadillac CTS when he failed to come to a complete stop. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, and a K-9 alerted them to the presence of a firearm in the vehicle.
Authorities discovered a firearm Rossi, Model 461, .357 caliber magnum revolver in a grocery bag hanging from the gear shift. They also found 25 grams of cocaine, a bottle of Xanax pills, and approximately $25,000 in cash.
Gallegos-Martinez claimed there were no firearms or narcotics within the vehicle, but the evidence told a different story. The court heard additional evidence that he had been previously convicted of a felony for possession of a controlled substance while serving as a police officer.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed down the sentence, noting the significant amount of cash found in the vehicle as well as the narcotics. Gallegos-Martinez was ordered to serve 41 months in federal prison, to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
Gallegos-Martinez has been and will remain in custody pending his transfer to the Bureau of Prisons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the Alamo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the U.S. Attorney’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s office emphasized that PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts to root out corruption within law enforcement and ensure that those who break the law are held accountable.
Gallegos-Martinez’s crimes include:
Defendant/respondent REAL full name: Michael Gallegos-Martinez
Criminal charges: Illegally possessing a firearm
City and state: McAllen, Texas
Exact DATE with month/day/year: June 25, 2023 (traffic stop), December 3, 2024 (sentencing)
Sentence or outcome: 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release
Dollar amounts: $25,000 in cash
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime|Drugs
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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