A former deputy constable from Harris County was handed down an eight-year prison sentence for bribery, as announced by District Attorney Kim Ogg. In uniform, Bobby Joe Espinosa terrorized local Vietnamese businesses, demanding money with the threat of arrest. The victims, predominantly older Vietnamese men, were targeted due to their cash dealings and experiences with government corruption in their home country.
Starting his shakedown in September 2021, Espinosa introduced himself to business owners, soon returning to unduly collect payments. According to testimony reported by the Harris County District Attorney's Office, one victim was coerced into paying $2,500 upfront, followed by weekly payments of $200. The exploitation continued until a confidant - a Harris County sheriff’s deputy - was informed and consequently alerted the authorities.
Other reports from business owners indicated that Espinosa's corruption knew few bounds, confiscating personal items like watches or blatantly stealing cash when his demands were refused. "Too often we see our immigrant communities being taken advantage of because they believe dirty cops who claim that no one cares or that no one will believe them,” DA Ogg stated, as per Harris County District Attorney Office.
The trial revealed the nefarious lengths Espinosa would go to conceal his actions, including tampering with surveillance equipment to cloak his thefts. Assistant District Attorney Vincent Tanzillo and Division Chief Gavin Ellis, from the Civil Rights Division, stressed the violation of trust and the impact it has on community relations. “The worst part is that this defendant’s behavior affects Harris County as a whole because it erodes trust in law enforcement across the board,” Tanzillo stated, according to the same news release.
The Civil Rights Division, tasked with holding law enforcement officers to account, saw this case as a triumph of justice, as evidenced by the jury’s decision and the substantial penalty imposed. Espinosa, now convicted, will immediately start to serve his prison term and pay a $10,000 fine.
