Mexico Trucker Online

Deputy accused of dishonesty

A LaSalle County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested Tuesday on federal extortion charges after he allegedly demanded money from drivers after pulling them over for traffic violations.Henry James Jr., 44, of San Antonio, is alleged to have stopped at least six people, two of whom were federal agents working undercover while investigating James, and telling them to pay fines directly to him to avoid incarceration.

“The charge is that he was on the side of the road collecting fine money for speeding and running stop signs, in exchange for not going to jail,” LaSalle County Sheriff Victor S. Villarreal said.

Late Wednesday afternoon, a Webb County Jail official said that James had been released from their custody and turned over to federal authorities. Villarreal said James is scheduled for a detention hearing Monday morning.

A statement released by Villarreal’s office said the sheriff received the initial complaint June 30, and then initiated an investigation with the help of the Texas Rangers and the FBI. Sheriff’s officials contacted at least three people, all of whom had Mexican driver’s licenses, who stated that James told them they would be required to pay him in order to avoid being arrested, the statement continues.

The sheriff’s office also said it used its Global Positioning System to document instances when James would stop vehicles and not inform his dispatch office of his location or provide them with information about the cars and the people he was pulling over.

James was arrested after a federal court issued a warrant for his arrest, Villarreal said, adding that James appeared in front of a federal magistrate Wednesday morning.

In his statement, Villarreal reiterated that the sheriff’s department was continuing its efforts to remind the community that the department is doing all it could to maintain public confidence.

“With the recent history involving LaSalle County law enforcement officers, it is important that the community know that we are diligently enforcing the laws in the county and that no one is exempt from those laws, including our own officers,” the statement reads.

Has anyone had contact with this cretin?