Former Police Chief Tim Vasquez Accused of Receiving Bribes Through His Band, Funky Munky

 

SAN ANGELO, TX – A federal grand jury has indicted San Angelo’s former Chief of Police for public corruption following an investigation by the FBI Dallas Field Office, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.

Timothy Ray Vasquez, 49, was charged Wednesday with one count of receipt of a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal funds and three counts of honest services mail fraud.

“We must insist that law enforcement leaders personify integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “Former Chief Vasquez abused his office for personal financial gain. We are determined to root out corruption wherever we find it. Public officials cannot be allowed to violate their sacred trusts.”

“The defendant manipulated a government procurement process to personally profit for years. This abuse of power affected a system that is supposed to be fair and unbiased,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office Matthew J. DeSarno. “Public corruption is one of the FBI’s top investigative priorities. We will continue to hold elected officials accountable for violating the trust of their constituents.”

Mr. Vasquez – who was elected Chief of Police in 2004, then reelected in 2008 and 2012 – made his initial appearance in federal court Friday afternoon.

According to the indictment, Mr. Vasquez allegedly used his official position to help a radio system vendor land two government contracts worth more than $11 million. In return, the vendor and its affiliates allegedly funneled him and his band, “Funky Munky,” more than $130,000.

Per the indictment, in February 2007, the City of San Angelo solicited bids for a new radio system for first responders, including the police department. Three vendors submitted bids.

Mr. Vasquez allegedly asked one of the vendors for a vacation trip, but was rebuffed.

In April, Mr. Vasquez recommended the city award the $5.6 million contract to a different vendor, identified in the indictment as “Vendor 1,” who was eventually selected for the contract.

Three months later, in July, Juniper Valley, L.P., an affiliate of Vendor 1, cut a $10,000 check to “Funky Munky Band.” Mr. Vasquez deposited the funds into his personal checking account.

For the next eight years, Mr. Vasquez received yearly payments of approximately $8,000 from Vendor 1 and its affiliates, Juniper Valley and Trixie & Fini, either made out to Mr. Vasquez or his band.

By 2015, Mr. Vasquez and Funky Munky had collected more than $84,000, including $38,200 the defendant deposited directly into his personal bank account and $29,800 he withdrew in cash.

However, seven years after the original contract was awarded, the radio technology provided by Vendor 1 was “phased out.” In an email with city employees, Mr. Vasquez indicated he wanted to “use the same vendor” for the new equipment, and urged the City Manager to support Vendor 1. In another email with a city employee, he discussed an exemption from the competitive bidding process that would allow San Angelo to award the contract to Vendor 1.

Following a presentation made by then-Chief Vasquez and another employee, San Angelo awarded a new $5.7 million contract to "Vendor 1" in June 2015. According to our reporting at the time, the contract was with Dailey and Wells Communications, Inc., aka "Vendor 1"  who sold Harris brand police radios. According to our report at the time, former Councilman Marty Self was the lone councilman voting against the deal.

Six months later, Vendor 1 wrote a check to “Funky Munky,” noting “Timothy R. Vasquez” in the check’s memo section. A few days later, Mr. Vasquez endorsed the $50,000 check and deposited the entire amount into his personal bank account.

In total, Mr. Vasquez and Funky Munky received at least $134,000 from Vendor 1 and its affiliates, including at least $88,200 he deposited into his personal bank account and $29,800 he withdrew in cash.

Funky Munky’s typical fee to play at an event runs from $1,000 - $3,000.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, Mr. Vasquez faces up to 70 years in federal person.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Rangers, with the full cooperation of the San Angelo Police Department and the City of San Angelo, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Haag and Chad Meacham are prosecuting the case.

Vasquez, who served as San Angelo's chief of police since 2004, lost the election for police chief in July 2016 to Frank Carter. Accusations swirled around possible illegal activity being committed by Vasquez then, but no law enforcement entity would confirm an investigation was ongoing then.

“Although the San Angelo Police Department’s involvement was very limited, we fully cooperated with the Texas Rangers and FBI during their respective ongoing investigations. The San Angelo Police Department, along with our law enforcement partners, have a very strong working relationship with our colleagues at the Federal, State and local levels.” said current Chief of Police Frank Carter in a prepared statement.

Any questions relating to this case should be directed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the SAPD stated.

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It’s taken a lot of years but Tim has finally reached a point where even the slowest of his sucker enablers can see the truth. There are enough of his corrupt associates out there to fill a who’s - who volume of San Angelo’s elite. Tim will sing to save his rump and will take others down with him. It would not be surprising at all to bring up San Angelo Live one morning and find that Tim had been Epsteined by San Angelo’s version of the Mafia.

As I remember Federal Attorney, Jeff Haag attempted to convict the former President of the Texas Police Chief’s Association back in 2008, but was derailed by our District Attorneys and the San Angelo Mafia. Well the worm has turned. I’ll bet retired Ranger, Major Shawn Palmer and the officers and families of the SAPD that worked with Tim are having a great time tonight, while some where in heaven Steve Mida is wearing a larger than normal smile.

The Rise and Fall of Tim Vasquez would make a great made for TV movie.

Who was it that wanted to make mr. Vasquez chief for life? I remember that idea being pushed by

some in city government. Maybe they should be looked into also?

You can bet all of those payments were deducted on tax returns, The good news, that money is not a legal tax deduction, the Vender 1 and all subsidiaries need to be audited. The Chief is now a prime target of the IRS, my betting money says he did not report those payments as income. Add Tax Fraud to the charges.

You know the cost of the reported bribe or bribes was passed along to us taxpayers.
I wonder what our city government is doing to recoup these monies.
That radio system was horrible. Total waste of our taxpayers money.

I never believed all of the rumors. But now, it's probably all true. The chief is well paid, this is just greed. Vendor 1 should also be in trouble for bribery.

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