Summary

On March 8, 2012, former police officer Jose Luis Ruiz was indicted for tampering with a government record with the intent to defraud by an El Paso County Grand Jury, El Paso, Texas.  Ruiz was indicted on twenty-four counts. 

The former officer is accused of submitting overtime reimbursement requests containing false information as to the times worked and number of traffic citations issued.  The requests were submitted in 2009 through 2010 while working overtime under the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, which is funded through a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) grant.  Mr. Ruiz is part of a group of twenty-two El Paso police officers suspected to date in this traffic ticket overtime scheme.  

This investigation is being conducted jointly with the El Paso Police Department and El Paso County District Attorney's Office, with assistance from NHTSA and Texas Department of Transportation. 

Note:  Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government.  All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.