Southern District of Texas
Donald J. DeGabrielle, Jr. - United States Attorney

FORMER HPD OFFICER SENTENCED TO PRISON

(HOUSTON, Texas) – A former Houston Police Department (HPD) officer convicted of conspiring to hire and arming illegal aliens with firearms through his private security firm has been sentenced to prison, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

David Rodriguez, 39, a former HPD officer, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore to serve 37 months in federal prison and fined $1,000 for his felony conviction. Approximately one year ago, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate various federal laws while owning and operating Bayou City Patrol Division (BCPD), a private security company. Both Rodriguez and his private security company were indicted in July 2006 and charged with conspiracy to hire and arm illegal aliens and deal in firearms without a proper federal license. BCPD was convicted and sentenced to a three-year-term of probation this past summer. The company is no longer operating.

Rodriguez was a 13-year HPD veteran who was relieved of duty, placed on administrative status and ultimately resigned. He was arrested in July 2006 by officers assigned to the HPD’s Internal Affairs Division and released to federal authorities.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to violating the federal Gun Control Act by lying on federal forms during the purchase of handguns, and although he did not possess a license to deal in firearms, he admitted to transferring handguns to numerous illegal aliens whom he hired as armed security guards at his security company. Rodriguez admitted that between December 2000 and December 2005, he hired persons who falsely and fraudulently acquired security guard commissions from the State of Texas, Department of Public Safety - Private Security Bureau, by using false social security numbers and biographical data. The armed security guards, many of whom could not speak English, where assigned to locations in the Houston metropolitan area where HPD often responded to investigate assaults, narcotics trafficking/possession, domestic violence and prostitution.

Rodriguez was permitted to remain free on bond pending the issuance of an order of the court ordering him to surrender to a soon to be designated U.S. Bureau of Prison facility.

The investigation leading the charges was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abe Martinez.

 

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