Former Bexar County Jail Guard Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Smuggle Contraband to Inmates

In San Antonio today, a former detention officer at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center (BCADC) was sentenced to three years in federal prison for a scheme to smuggle methamphetamine to inmates, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.

In addition to the prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra ordered that 30-year-old Gabriel Robert Ortiz be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.  On November 20, 2018, Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  By pleading guilty, Ortiz admitted that he and his co-defendant, 27–year-old former BCADC officer Ruben Hernandez, carried out their attempted smuggling scheme from May 4, 2018, until June 22, 2018.  Both defendants were the subjects of an undercover operation carried out by federal and state authorities.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge on January 2, 2019.  He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 8, 2019.

“This sentence shows that members of law enforcement who violate the law will be held to the same standards as any other citizens,” stated U.S. Attorney John Bash.

“I am glad to see that justice was served in this case, and I am proud to have partnered with the FBI on this sting operation. As I’ve stated in the past officer misconduct will not be tolerated within my agency and I will do everything possible to hold them accountable criminally and administratively,” stated Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.

The FBI and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Surovic is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.