Robert Maxwell
A former Williamson County police chief is headed to prison for 4 1/2 years after being sentenced for his role in a federal immigration bribery scheme.
Andres Tomas Gutierrez pleaded guilty in February after admitting he took bribes between $10,000 and $40,000 from undocumented immigrants, a US Attorney’s Office release showed.
In exchange, the chief would secure special immigration status for those people, falsely telling authorities they were assisting the Jarrell Police Department in undercover narcotics and human trafficking operations. The special paroles allowed them to defer deportation.
The chief was charged with wire fraud and theft of honest services which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, according to court records.
Gutierrez, 52, was hired as Jarrell’s first police chief six years ago. He resigned from the tiny department in October 2013 and told city leaders he was pursuing his education. FBI agents temporarily took his computer from City Hall last December. Former Interim Chief Roger Thompson was confirmed as chief in April.
Source: kxan
