Former Bexar County Jail Guard Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Smuggle Narcotics to Inmates

In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced a former detention officer at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center (BCADC) to 18 months in prison for his scheme to smuggle methamphetamine to inmates, announced United States Attorney John F. Bash; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.

In addition to the prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra ordered that 27-year-old Ruben Hernandez be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

“Part of our steadfast support of law enforcement is holding officers accountable when they break the laws they’re supposed to be enforcing.  It builds community trust when citizens know that there are no double standards,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

On January 2, 2019, Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  By pleading guilty, Hernandez admitted that from May 4, 2018, until June 22, 2018, he conspired with 30–year-old former BCADC detention officer Gabriel Robert Ortiz to smuggle methamphetamine to inmates. Both defendants were the subjects of an undercover operation carried out by federal and state authorities.

“This defendant was not only willing to profit from his position of trust, but was also willing to place his peers in harm's way by undermining rules, regulations, and the law by allowing contraband into the Bexar County Detention Center,” stated FBI SAC Christopher Combs.  “The FBI will continue to work with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, the San Antonio Police Department and other partners, to address public corruption.  We urge anyone with information regarding public corruption, including law enforcement officers, to contact their nearest FBI Field Office.”

Ortiz is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for his role in the scheme.  

“We are proud to have partnered for the first time with the FBI on this joint sting operation,” stated Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. “I am pleased with the conviction in this case, and my stance remains the same on rooting out misconduct.”

The FBI and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Surovic prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.