Former Wichita Police Officer Sentenced in Scheme to Pay Bribe

WICHITA—A former officer of the Wichita Police Department has been sentenced to a year on federal probation after pleading guilty in a scheme to pay a bribe as part of an unsuccessful effort to keep from losing her job, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Former officer Joletta Vallejo, 35, Wichita, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Vallejo was employed by the police department from January 9, 2006 to August 24, 2012. In her plea, she admitted that on October 16, 2011, two citizens approached her to make a report that they were victims of an aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnaping, aggravated battery, and attempted first-degree murder. Vallejo did not follow the police department’s policies in responding and filing their complaints.

As a result of her failure to follow department policies, Vallejo was investigated by the police department’s Professional Standards Bureau. When she was interviewed, she lied to the investigators. When she became aware she was going to be fired, she and co-defendant Patrick Melendrez devised a scheme to attempt to keep her job.

On August 22, 2012, Vallejo created a Google Voice number in the name of Melendrez. They used that number to call and text one of the citizens to offer him money to recant the statements he had made to police about Vallejo’s conduct. The citizen’s response was part of an undercover investigation.

Co-defendant Patrick Melendrez was sentenced to two years on probation. Co-defendant Courtney Foster is awaiting trial.

Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.