CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A 26-year-old Three Rivers man entered a guilty plea to bribery of a public official charge last week, the Southern District of the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.
Justin Matthew Gonzalez was a former corrections officer with the federal Bureau of Prisons at the Three Rivers Correctional Institution.
As part of his plea, he admitted to receiving approximately $1,600 in what he described as “bribe” payments in return for smuggling cigarettes into the facility, a press release stated.
Authorities discovered 16 packets of cigarettes in Gonzalez's bag when he arrived to work in February of 2021.
“Public service is a public trust, especially for those in positions in corrections and law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
“The vast majority of these officers serve with honesty and integrity. However, we must still root out any and all forms of corruption or abuse in our federal prisons and hold accountable those who choose to break the law themselves.”
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales will impose sentencing Nov. 20. At that time, Gonzalez faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Gonzalez is permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
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