Former La Villa Corrections Officer Convicted of Smuggling Cell Phone to Federal Inmate

2012-07-04

Jorge Luis Sandoval, 31, of Pharr, Texas, has been convicted on a bribery charge for smuggling a cell phone into the East Hildago Detention Center, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

Sandoval pleaded guilty to one count of bribery at a hearing held earlier today before Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa. At the hearing, Sandoval admitted to accepting a bribe while working as a corrections officer at the East Hildago Detention Center in La Villa, Texas, under the authority of the U.S Marshals Service. Sandoval used his official position to enrich himself by accepting a cash payment from an individual acting on behalf of a federal inmate in exchange for smuggling a cellular telephone into the prison on two occasions.

Judge Hinojosa has set sentencing for October 18, 2012, at which time Sandoval faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation