Cop in uniform demanded bribes from businesses to not investigate them, Texas cops say
A former Texas deputy was sentenced to eight years in prison after he stole from local businesses and attempted to solicit bribes from them, Texas prosecutors said.
Bobby Joe Espinosa entered Houston businesses in uniform and demanded cash between Nov. 2021 to April 2022, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in an October 2022 news release announcing his indictment.
At the time, he was a deputy for the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office in Harris County, prosecutors said. Espinosa was charged in April 2022 and was fired from the constable’s office.
A jury convicted the 41-year-old of bribery on Sept. 24 and sentenced him to 8 years in prison and a $1,000 fine on Oct. 1, according to court records.
The constable’s office did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on Oct. 1. Espinosa’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
Espinosa took cash from tip jars, cash registers and “pried open game machines” to get money, prosecutors said.
A victim testified in court saying Espinosa entered his business in uniform, kicked everyone except the cashier out and then stole $1,2000 from the cash register, KHOU reported.
Some of the businesses targeted were owned by immigrants, Ogg said.
He also tried to solicit bribes from business owners in exchange for not investigating them, Ogg said.
One business owner told the court that Espinosa demanded a $400 payment each month and then stole his watch when he said he couldn’t afford the payment, KHOU reported.
“He used a badge to coerce, intimidate and steal,” Ogg said in the 2022 release.
This story was originally published October 1, 2024 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Cop in uniform demanded bribes from businesses to not investigate them, Texas cops say."
