One From San Benito, Another From Weslaco

By J. Noel Espinoza/San Benito News

Two former Cameron County deputy constables in precinct 5 are facing up to 20 years in federal prison for extortion, conspiracy and wire fraud.

Law enforcement officers arrested May 30 two former deputies with the Cameron County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office and identified them as Benito de la Cruz Jr., 45, of San Benito, and Armando Gonzalez Jr., 31, of Weslaco.

The indictment charges against De la Cruz and Gonzalez include conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and wire fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

As a formal accusation of criminal conduct, an indictment isn’t evidence.

Federal prosecutors said both suspects are still in law enforcement, but not currently affiliated with Precinct 5.

Federal prosecutors said a grand jury returned a 12-count indictment under seal May 28. The two suspects were taken into custody May 30 and were expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Morgan the following day.

According to the indictments, De la Cruz and Gonzalez both unlawfully ran license plate and criminal history checks. They are accused of allegedly performing or asking other to execute law enforcement database checks in exchange for money or gifts.

Federal prosecutors also charged De la Cruz with five counts of making false statements allegedly not telling the truth to the  FBI special agent when he was interviewed about the plot.

Cameron County Constable Precinct 5 Eddie Solis said on Tuesday De la Cruz was already working in the precinct when he took office in December 2016.

Solis said De la Cruz worked for him for about five months through 2017.

Although he didn’t want to comment about the incident, Solis said he fired De la Cruz five months later. “There were some discrepancies with the work he was performing,” Solis said.

After he was terminated, Solis said De la Cruz was hired by Cameron County Constable Precinct 3 Adrian Gonzalez.

When asked whether he was surprised about De la Cruz’s arrest, Solis responded, “Not Really.”

Solis said Armando Gonzalez, the other suspect, ran against him in precinct 5 and he’s a captain in La feria.

Victoria Cisneros, a spokeswoman for Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz, said the office has been involved in the investigation since 2016.

The United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas says all the agencies involved in the arrest are part of an investigation conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

San Benito Mayor Benjamín “Ben” Gómez said he didn’t know De la Cruz at all.

“He’s not working for San Benito,” Gomez said. “He’s a constable in the Harlingen area. I don’t even know who he’s and I can’t comment on someone that I don’t know.” Both De la Cruz and Gonzalez could face up to 20 years in federal prison for extortion and wire fraud and five years for each count of making false statements, according to federal prosecutors.