SAN ANGELO, TX — Tim Vasquez has been sentenced to 15.5 years in federal prison and will have to pay a $35,000 fine.
The former San Angelo Police Chief convicted of accepting bribes entered the courtroom in the Federal Courthouse downtown wearing a yellow jumpsuit. He was shackled, so he had chains on his ankles and his wrists were chained to his waist. He shuffled as he made his way to his seat.
Former San Angelo Police Chief Vasquez was sentenced Friday at the Federal Courthouse in San Angelo, 33 E. Twohig Ave. His sentencing follows his conviction in March 2022 for bribery and three counts of honest services mail fraud. Earlier this year, the U.S. Attorney in Lubbock stated that all together, Vasquez could get 70 years in jail.
Vasquez had been held in the Terry County Jail in Brownfield since his conviction on March 24.
Vasquez’s conviction stems from about 13 years of payments made to him through his band, Funky Munky, for performances at Dailey and Wells Communications, Inc., a public safety radio vendor that the City of San Angelo hired to install and maintain its L3 Harris public safety radio system. The jury found that those payments were bribes paid to the former police chief for the chief’s advocacy of using Dailey and Wells and its Harris radio solution. The City last purchased a major radio upgrade from Dailey and Wells in 2015 for $5.7 million.
The conviction has influenced the City of San Angelo to reconsider its long-held tradition and law of electing its police chief. This month, a city-appointed special committee reported to the City Council their findings so far of reasons to have the city manager appoint a police chief instead of leaving the choice up to the voters. San Angelo is the only city in Texas that elects its police chief. To change the City charter, a ballot initiative is required and voters must choose to change the way the San Angelo police chief is chosen.
While he was facing 70 years in federal prison, experts predicted the range of the punishment can possibly be anywhere from 10 to 30 years. The sentencing was originally scheduled in Lubbock in June but Federal District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, presiding, ruled the sentencing venue changed to San Angelo for August 5, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. about two months ago.
Vasquez has been in custody since he as found guilty. He will remain in custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons when they have a bed for him at a location chosen by the BOP. Federal guidelines require inmates to serve 85% of their sentence. That would have Vasquez serving 13.1 years in prison before becoming eligible for release. There is no parole in the federal prison system. He could spend three to six months in a halfway house at the end of his term if caseworkers recommend that to prison officials. Once a person becomes an inmate with the BOP, the Bureau will decide where that inmate will be placed depending on several factors including the Judge's recommendation, whether the inmate is high profile and how likely the inmate is to be harmed by other inmates, as well as other factors.
The nearest Federal Correctional Institution to San Angelo is FCI Big Spring. Vasquez's attorney requested the federal prison near Dallas. Vasquez's girlfriend lives in the DFW area.
We will have more on this story later.
Former San Angelo Police Chief Tim Vasquez Sentenced to Prison 8.5.22 (LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)
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Comments
I bet that sentence wiped that shit eating grin off his face. Too bad he'll probably be out in less that 10 years.
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PermalinkTime is too short, he must’ve done a plea bargain which means he gave information. We’ll see others fall. Small price to pay for corruption. He’s got a greater sentence with God.
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PermalinkWhy hasn't the radio system been recalled? Why no charges have been filed against the radio system supplier ?
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PermalinkIn federal prison you serve the whole term. No good behavior release. What they need to do is continue it. That band is corrupt all of them to Kevin Collins owner of Brentwood cc and his financial doings. Irs and labor violations. To Daryl Cates of a tex restaurant that doesn't have a contractor license to work in his name. Glad to see him go away. I guess no one is above the law and or money.
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Permalink(1) It's not "Brentwood", but rather "Bentwood".
(2) Mr. Collins does not own the club.
(3) You write abominably.
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Permalink...
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Permalink"The conviction has influenced the City of San Angelo to reconsider its long-held tradition and law of electing its police chief. This month, a city-appointed special committee reported to the City Council their findings so far of reasons to have the city manager appoint a police chief instead of leaving the choice up to the voters. San Angelo is the only city in Texas that elects its police chief. To change the City charter, a ballot initiative is required and voters must choose to change the way the San Angelo police chief is chosen."
This is worrisome. Elected Law Enforcement has greater accountability to their constituents, and greater authority within their jurisdictions even superseding that of federal authorities, especially at the county sheriff level. Getting rid of elected law enforcement positions allows for greater encroachment on liberties, especially in times of "National Emergencies" declared by executive order. From ANY executive of any political affiliation.
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PermalinkSan Angelo residents BEWARE… San Angelo law enforcement is involved in ORGANIZED CRIME. I stood in front of the Tom Green County Courthouse about 12 years ago holding a sign with the then Chief of Police Tim Vasquez’s name on it. I was accusing Mafia Chief Of Police Tim Vasquez of being connected to the attempted murder of my daughter on August 10, 2009 in San Angelo.. I was videotaped and interviewed by a local news station but the video was never put on television. I walked across the street to San Angelo Standard Times and they interviewed me on a bench just inside their front door… I even went and talked to the City Manager Daniel Valenzuela in his office. I told Daniel about what happened to my daughter and that law enforcement was involved. I told Daniel “there will be a day when Chief of Police Tim Vasquez is arrested and wearing handcuffs !!! “…. City Manager Daniel Valenzuela did NOTHING !!! … I went to the San Angelo Police station and made my accusations against the the Mafia Chief of Police Tim Vasquez. Vasquez was at the police station but was a COWARD and would not come out and face me. Assistant Chief of Police Robert Martinez trespassed me from the police station. Detective David Howard ( now Assistant Chief of Police) spoke with me in the parking lot. I told him the connections I had found to the attempted murder of my daughter and Mafia Tim Vasquez. Detective David Howard told me he had testified to the Texas Rangers against Vasquez and that a drug informant with information about Vasquez had to be moved out of San Angelo because they were in fear for her life… I had a Deputy tell me “ I will WARN you Chief of Police Tim Vasquez and the SAPD are involved in drug trafficking !!!”… I had a lawyer in San Angelo tell me “Tim Vasquez was a drug dealer in high school. Nobody could believe he became a cop much less the Chief of Police “… Mafia Vasquez laundered dirty money (bribe money) thru his band, ok then why wasn’t he charged with money laundering? … Look on Tom Green County Appraisal District website. Tim Vasquez’s wife or ex wife bought a house from the owner of Home Motors (towing)… Look at the house Vasquez owns in San Angelo and look at the property taxes of his house compared to his neighbors? What the ?… Ex Assistant Chief of Police Robert Martinez sues Target Department store for injuries to which shoulder? What did a doctor for Target state about Robert Martinez ?…
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