Former correctional officer at East Hidalgo Detention Center pleads guilty to bribery
A former correctional officer at the East Hidalgo Detention Center pleaded guilty to bribery on Monday.
Jose Martin Espinoza Jr., 35, of Mercedes pleaded guilty to bribery Monday afternoon during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo.
During the hearing, Espinoza confessed to smuggling phones into the East Hidalgo Detention Center in exchange for cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner, who is prosecuting the case, said Espinoza charged $500 for each phone and received the money via Cash App.
Espinoza was caught on May 17, 2022, when he attempted to bring a phone to Sixto Gonzalez Jr., an inmate charged with hostage taking.
The East Hidalgo Detention Center, where Espinoza worked, is owned by The Geo Group, a company based in Boca Raton, Florida. It holds about 1,300 inmates for the U.S. Marshals Service.
Espinoza is the eighth detention center employee to plead guilty to a public corruption charge during the past three years:
> Former Correctional Officer Amber Marie Estrada, 24, of Weslaco pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Estrada smuggled marijuana and food to inmates. In exchange, she received a horse and cash.
> Former Cook Supervisor Brenda Fuentes, 51, of Weslaco pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a ward and was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison. An inmate told investigators they had six sexual encounters. Fuentes said they had just one sexual encounter and it was an “isolated incident.”
> Former Correctional Officer Domingo Gonzalez Hernandez, 29, of Mercedes pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to six months in prison. Hernandez provided food to inmates. In exchange, he received cash, a gift card and a Chevrolet truck.
> Former Correctional Officer Erasmo Loya, 58, of La Villa pleaded guilty to providing contraband to a person in a correctional facility and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Loya brought cocaine, marijuana and food to inmates.
> Former Commissary Officer Jayson Catalan, 40 of Mercedes pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to six months in prison. Catalan provided inmates with home-cooked food.
> Former Correctional Officer Jhaziel Loredo, 35, of Progreso pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to 28 months in prison. Loredo provided inmates with drugs and other contraband.
> Former Certified Medical Assistant Veronica Ortega, 47, of McAllen pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Ortega provided at least three inmates with marijuana.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 31. Espinoza faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison.
