Former Ector County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to Federal Prison for Extortion Under Color of Law

In Midland today, a federal judge sentenced 47-year-old former Ector County Sheriff’s Deputy David Oscar Limon to 15 months in federal prison for extortion under color of law announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, Jr., El Paso Division, and Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), El Paso.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Robert A. Junell ordered that Limon pay a $13,200 fine and perform 100 hours of community service while on three years of supervised release after completing his prison term. Judge Junell also ordered that Limon surrender within the next 60 days to federal authorities in order to begin serving his prison term.

On May 11, 2017, Limon pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act extortion under color of law, or affecting commerce by extortion. By pleading guilty, Limon admitted that while serving as an Ector County Sheriff’s deputy between January 2010 and June 10, 2016, he extorted over $13,000 from several Odessa game room owners in exchange for protection for their game rooms and information about law enforcement actions that affected their operations.

“David Oscar Limon, a Sheriff’s deputy charged to lawfully protect the citizens of Ector County, was motivated by his own self-interest and greed,” stated Emmerson Buie, Jr., FBI El Paso. “The FBI is pleased Mr. Limon is being held accountable for these criminal actions. We will continue to root out public corruption, whether it is officials who violate their oath and the law, or citizens who bribe them to do so.”

“This sentence sends a clear message to law enforcement who choose to break the laws they were sworn to uphold,” said Waldemar Rodriguez, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI special agents will continue to build strong relationships with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals in positions of public trust to the highest of standards.”

The FBI and HSI investigated this case with assistance from the Ector County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney LaTawn Warsaw prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.