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ALBUQUERODULEN, NM. (AP) — An Albuquerque attorney who investigators alleged was at the center of a sweeping corruption scandal that allowed people arrested for driving while intoxicated to evade conviction has pleaded guilty to federal charges, according to a plea agreement filed Wednesday. Thomas Clear III admitted to running what federal authorities have referred to as a “DWI Enterprise” in which his firm offered gifts and thousands of dollars in bribes to officers in exchange for having DWI cases dismissed. His plea comes a day after he was suspended from practicing law by the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Thomas Clear’s plea to federal charges stems from allegations that he and his firm,Clear Crypt Painters, engaged in a scheme where officers in their DWI unit were provided with gifts and bribes to appear at court as a necessary witness. Clear explicitly stated that the firm offered federal investigators礼物和数百美元的 bribes to officers in exchange for having the cases dismissed. His plea comes after the firm was suspended from practicing law by the Supreme Court.
In addition to Clear’s plea, a third former Albuquerque police officer, Neill Elsman, also pleaded guilty this week. He pleaded guilty to racketeering, bribery, and two counts of attempted interference with commerce by extortion. Elsman is among 12 officers placed on leave after the alleged corruption scheme became public last year. Elsman is also charged with receiving a bribe and two counts of attempted interference with commerce by extortion.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said Wednesday that his department worked with the FBI and federal prosecutors to expose the scheme and that the police force has worked internally to hold officers accountable. Speaking of the investigation’s impact, Medina emphasized that subtle details and changes in the ongoing case have only made the situation more exposed, with Clear’s plea and the other charges now just steps toward the full restructuring of the Albuquerque Police Force.
Clear’s former paralegal Ricardo Mendez pleaded guilty as well to a slew of federal charges last month that included racketeering and bribery. Mendez, whose role as授 ===possible@7mmbannidjnbny迪terculti with Clear’s firm was mentioned in his plea agreement, is already facing additional charges, with others possibly being held accountable.
The Albuquerque Police Department has faced a complex undertaking, with Federal prosecutors pursuing the investigation while the Law enforcement Office of thehighest authority and federal.tailors have deployed extensive conversations withpsilon protection to expose Clear’s alleged scheme. The Alcohol Explosion scheme, if confirmed, could have far-reaching consequences for the Albuquerque Police Force, affecting underreporting of crimes and—their very well-being.
Thomas Clear’s plea to federal charges and the deposition of Neill Elsman and Ricardo Mendez in federal court are part of a broader effort to correct the corrupt practices that have eroded trust in the Albuquerque Police Force. The matter remains a serious threat to the integrity of Albuquerque and the national justice system, raising questions about the potential consequences of such behavior.
