Timothy Ray Vasquez, Bribery, Texas 2020

San Angelo’s former Chief of Police Timothy Ray Vasquez, 52, was convicted of accepting bribes announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

After a three-day trial and about seven hours of deliberation, a federal jury found Vasquez guilty of one count of receipt of a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal funds and three counts of honest services mail fraud. Vasquez was elected Chief of Police in 2004, then reelected in 2008 and 2012.

“Law enforcement officers, particularly those in leadership positions, should be bastions of integrity. By accepting bribes, Mr. Vasquez defiled his badge,” said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “The Justice Department is determined to root out public corruption wherever we find it. Our citizens deserve honest public servants.”

“Mr. Vasquez will now be held accountable for using his official position for financial gain at the expense of the residents of San Angelo. Each act of greed and dishonor affected fundamental aspects of the government processes and procedures that were designed to benefit the people they serve,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “Our communities should not have to question the integrity and trust of public officials, and today’s verdict is a step in restoring that confidence.”

According to evidence presented at trial, Vasquez used his official position to help Dailey & Wells Communications, Inc., a radio system vendor, land a $5.7-million-dollar contract with the City of San Angelo, Texas. In return, Dailey & Wells and its affiliates funneled Vasquez and his band, “Funky Munky,” more than $175,000. Dailey & Wells and its affiliates also provided him tickets for luxury suites at Dallas Cowboys and San Antonio Spurs games, tickets for a luxury suite at Journey concert, and free use of a luxury condominium at Alteza Condos in San Antonio.

Vasquez never disclosed to the City of San Angelo or the City Council that he had a business relationship with Dailey & Wells. The Texas Local Government Code, the City of San Angelo Employee Manual, and the San Angelo Purchasing Policy Manual all required Vasquez to disclose this relationship.

The exact date of the crime was not specified in the source. However, the case was first indicted in January 2020 and the verdict was announced on an unspecified date.

The verdict marked a conviction of receipt of a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal funds and three counts of honest services mail fraud. There was no mention of a sentence or outcome in the source.

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