A three-decade police corruption scheme in Albuquerque reached depths previously unimaginable: officers intentionally got innocent citizens drunk before arresting them for DWI, then extorted bribes to make the bogus charges disappear.
Decades of Endemic Corruption in Albuquerque’s DWI Unit
Former Albuquerque Police Department Lieutenant Justin Hunt pleaded guilty in January 2026 to extortion under color of official right, revealing a shocking corruption scheme that corrupted nearly an entire police unit. Since the 1990s, defense attorney Thomas Clear operated the “DWI Enterprise,” bribing APD DWI unit officers with cash, gifts, and hotel stays to skip court hearings and dismiss cases. Hunt joined APD in 2003 and served in the corrupt DWI unit from 2011 to 2014, accepting bribes after arresting drunk drivers who were then directed to Clear’s firm for lucrative legal representation.
A now-former @ABQPOLICE Lieutenant pled GUILTY today to being a *key player* in the scheme, admitting to accepting bribes to let drunk drivers off the hook.
👉🏻JUSTIN HUNT is the 10th & highest ranking LEO to face federal charges
His plea deal is revealing: https://t.co/EdKb0P4f7E— Ann Pierret (@AnnPierret) January 21, 2026
Orchestrated Intoxication and False Arrests
The scheme descended into unprecedented criminality when Clear’s paralegal Rick Mendez began intentionally intoxicating targets before tipping Hunt and other officers to arrest them for DWI. Hunt then omitted critical details from police reports, including Mendez’s presence at the scene, to conceal the premeditated nature of these arrests. This goes far beyond standard police corruption involving looking the other way. These officers actively participated in creating crimes against innocent citizens, violating their constitutional rights for personal profit while destroying lives and families in the process.
Jose Vasquez, a teetotaler whose breath test registered negative for alcohol, and Carlos Sandoval-Smith, who passed field sobriety tests, exemplify the human cost of this corruption. Both men were falsely arrested in 2020 by Officer Honorio Alba Jr., who directed them to Clear’s firm. Vasquez and Sandoval-Smith lost jobs and suffered severe family consequences from bogus arrests manufactured by officers sworn to protect them. A 14-plaintiff lawsuit now targets APD for systemic failures, while hundreds of DWI cases have been dismissed due to tainted officer involvement.
Leadership Failures and Ongoing Federal Investigation
Twenty-four law enforcement personnel spanning APD, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State Police have been implicated, with twelve pleading guilty to federal charges including bribery, racketeering, and extortion. APD Chief Harold Medina, who served since 2017, promoted corrupt officers including Hunt and Alba despite his oversight responsibilities. Medina claims APD “uncovered” the scandal and promises scrutiny extending back thirty years, yet critics note the department ignored bribery complaints reported in 2022 by attorney Daymon B. Ely. The FBI finally briefed Medina in October 2023, forcing action after internal affairs produced nothing.
Clear pleaded guilty in February 2025 to bribery, racketeering, and extortion, earning suspension from the New Mexico Supreme Court. Mendez pleaded guilty in January 2025, admitting to his role in intoxicating targets for staged arrests. Even New Mexico State Police’s “DWI King” sergeant, featured prominently in anti-DWI public service announcements, was fired after the probe exposed his participation. Hunt retired in February 2024 as the FBI investigation intensified, but federal prosecutors pursued justice regardless. Ten officers have left APD, though Clear’s sentencing remains pending as the investigation continues expanding.
This scandal represents catastrophic government overreach and abuse of power that every American should find deeply troubling. Police officers violated their oaths, the Constitution, and basic human decency by manufacturing crimes against innocent citizens for financial gain. The long-term implications extend beyond Albuquerque, eroding public trust in law enforcement nationwide and demonstrating what happens when accountability disappears and corruption becomes endemic within government institutions. The guilty DWI drivers who escaped justice through bribes remain on roads, creating ongoing public safety risks. Medina’s claims of departmental credit ring hollow when whistleblowers were ignored and corruption flourished under his watch, exemplifying leadership failures that enabled this travesty to continue for decades.
Sources:
Cop-Assisted Extortion of DWI Arrestees in New Mexico Included Getting Them Drunk
Shakedown New Mexico: Decades-Long Police Corruption Scandal Rocks Albuquerque’s DWI Unit
Attorney at Center of DWI Police Corruption Probe in Albuquerque Pleads Guilty
How an Albuquerque Traffic Stop Cost Me Everything