Former corrections officer charged with accepting bribes

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Three Rivers resident and former Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employee is expected to appear in federal court on two counts of bribery of a public official, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

Justin Matthew Gonzalez, 26, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie K. Hampton at 9:45 a.m.

According to the indictment, returned April 4 and unsealed upon his arrest April 8, Gonzalez formerly served as a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institution Three Rivers. The charges allege he accepted cash as payment to smuggle contraband into the correctional institution.

If convicted, Gonzalez faces up 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

Department of Justice – Office of Inspector General South Central Region conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Collins and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting the case.      

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.