El Paso ICE Officer Sentenced in Bribery Case

EL PASO, Texas – A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer stationed in El Paso was sentenced Monday to eight months in jail plus three years of supervised release for receiving a bribe by a public official.

According to court documents, Roberto Padilla, 51, was persuaded to reveal law enforcement sensitive information in exchange for a $500 payment to satisfy his drug debt.  Padilla was arrested Aug. 6, 2021 and released on bond Aug. 13, 2021.  He was immediately placed on administrative leave by ICE following his arrest and eventually relieved of employment entirely on Aug. 23, 2021.  Padilla pleaded guilty to the charge Nov. 10, 2022.

“This former agent jeopardized his law enforcement career, his life and the reputation of his agency,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “We will always vigorously prosecute public officials who abuse their authority, especially law enforcement officers who corruptly sell access to sensitive law enforcement databases.”

“Roberto Padilla engaged in conduct that betrayed the oath he took to faithfully serve the citizens of the United States of America,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “His behavior should not take away from the outstanding work done each day by the vast majority of law enforcement professionals at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The FBI encourages the public to continue to support our active and ongoing efforts to root out public corruption by reporting corrupt activity to the FBI El Paso Field Office at (915) 832-5000.”

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Osterberg prosecuted the case.

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