Former El Paso County Assistant District Attorney Indicted by Federal Grand Jury in Connection with Bribery Scheme
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 12, 2013 |
In El Paso, FBI agents arrested a former El Paso County Assistant District Attorney Antonio Reyes based on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and the deprivation of honest services, announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist.
The indictment, returned on Wednesday and unsealed today, alleges that from March 30, 2011 until April 15, 2011, Reyes conspired with others through text messaging to accept cash bribes in exchange for dismissing pending criminal cases.
Upon conviction, Reyes faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
“The arrest of Mr. Reyes demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to the citizens of El Paso that we will vigorously investigate allegations of public corruption in our community and bring those responsible to justice. The citizens of this community deserve to have a sense of confidence that their tax dollars are being spent efficiently for the public good and not for the private enrichment of those in a position of trust,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist.
This indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by the agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William F. Lewis is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.