SAN ANGELO, Texas -The San Angelo Police Department as well as the United Sates Department of Justice released separate statements regarding the investigation and arrest of former police chief, Tim R. Vasquez.
A federal grand jury indicted Vasquez for public corruption following an investigation by the FBI Dallas Field Office, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
“Timothy Ray Vasquez, 49, was charged Wednesday with one count of receipt of a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal funds and three counts of honest services mail fraud,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“We must insist that law enforcement leaders personify integrity,” said Cox. “Former Chief Vasquez abused his office for personal financial gain. We are determined to root out corruption wherever we find it. Public officials cannot be allowed to violate their sacred trusts.”
“The defendant manipulated a government procurement process to personally profit for years. This abuse of power affected a system that is supposed to be fair and unbiased,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office Matthew J. DeSarno. “Public corruption is one of the FBI’s top investigative priorities. We will continue to hold elected officials accountable for violating the trust of their constituents.”
Vasquez made his initial appearance in federal court Friday afternoon.
In San Angela, the job of police chief is an elected position. The man accused of public corruption was elected Chief of Police in 2004, then reelected in 2008 and 2012.
According to the indictment, Vasquez is accused of using his official position to help a radio system vendor land two government contracts worth more than $11 million. In return, the vendor and its affiliates allegedly funneled him and his band, “Funky Munky,” more than $130,000.
The DOJ press release laid out how the money was funneled to Vasquez over a period of years.
Vasquez has an exposure of up to 70 years in federal person.
The FBI and the Texas Rangers, with the full cooperation of the San Angelo Police Department and the City of San Angelo, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Haag and Chad Meacham are prosecuting the case.
Chief Frank Carter, the current top cop in San Angelo, made the following statement, reported Concho Valley news, “Although the San Angelo Police Department’s involvement was very limited, we fully cooperated with the Texas Rangers and FBI during their respective ongoing investigations. The San Angelo Police Department, along with our law enforcement partners, have a very strong working relationship with our colleagues at the Federal, State and local levels.”
