Cops BUSTED in Drunk Driver Racket

Police officer with patrol car and flashing lights.

Decorated Albuquerque police officers, hailed as heroes by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, admitted taking bribes to let drunk drivers escape justice in a 30-year corruption racket that betrayed public trust.

Story Highlights

Federal probe exposes “DWI Enterprise,” the largest police scandal in New Mexico history, implicating two dozen people including widely respected APD officers.
Attorney Thomas Clear orchestrated bribes to dismiss 2,500 DWI cases since the 1990s, with a dozen guilty pleas by early 2025.
Corrupt officers promoted to internal affairs shielded the scheme, undermining oversight and allowing generational corruption.
Hundreds of DWI convictions dismissed, endangering roads as guilty drivers avoided penalties like license suspensions.
Innocent Americans suffered wrongful arrests, job losses, and family harm while real threats roamed free.

Decades of Betrayal in APD’s DWI Unit

Federal investigators uncovered a systematic corruption scheme within Albuquerque Police Department’s DWI unit spanning from the 1990s through 2025. Attorney Thomas Clear built relationships with officers, paying bribes to dismiss charges or skip hearings. Clients paid Clear substantial fees expecting avoidance of license suspensions, interlock devices, and criminal penalties. This operation handled roughly 2,500 cases, prioritizing profit over public safety. President Trump’s Justice Department exposed what local oversight ignored for decades.

Key Players Plead Guilty to Bribery and Extortion

Thomas Clear pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025, to bribery, racketeering conspiracy, and extortion. His paralegal Ricardo Mendez admitted guilt January 24, 2025. Retired Officer James McCarson confessed to accepting bribes and missing court dates after 11 years in the unit. Officer Honorio Alba Jr. directed arrestees to Clear and pleaded guilty to bribery charges. Former Officer Louis A. Henckel III admitted extortion. These decorated officers, once praised by MADD, profited from endangering families on New Mexico roads.

Institutional Failures Allowed Corruption to Thrive

APD ignored red flags for years. In 2003, initial misconduct probes yielded nothing substantial. A 2014 internal affairs review disciplined only two officers despite video evidence. By 2019, nine DWI officers faced implications, prompting minor reforms under a DOJ agreement. Corrupt DWI veterans rose to senior roles, including internal affairs, blocking real accountability. The Citizens’ Police Oversight Agency sat on 2022 tips without action. This generational rot demanded federal intervention to restore law and order.

Commander Mark Landavazo went on leave February 2024 and was fired in August. Deputy Commander Gustavo Gomez followed, terminated months later. Sgt. Toby LaFave, the “DWI King” in state police anti-DWI ads, was fired October 2024 amid suspicions. FBI tipped off in 2022 by attorney Daymon B. Ely after arrestees reported bribe offers, fully unraveled the plot by early 2024.

Public Safety and Justice Undermined

Hundreds of DWI cases dismissed post-scandal, freeing convicted drunk drivers from consequences and sparking safety fears. Innocent victims like Jose Vasquez, arrested despite passing breath tests, lost jobs and strained families. Carlos Sandoval-Smith endured similar injustice after field sobriety clearance. A lawsuit by 14 plaintiffs targets Albuquerque for these harms. Federal prosecutors label it “institutionalized and generational,” treating it as organized crime. Reforms now target DWI protocols and oversight nationwide.

Lessons for Law Enforcement Integrity

This scandal erodes faith in police who swore to protect communities. Promoting insiders to watchdogs created blind spots, letting bribery flourish. Under President Trump, stronger federal oversight promises cleaner departments, prioritizing American safety over corrupt cliques. New Mexico residents demand accountability to prevent repeat offenses. Ongoing probes may reveal more, but guilty pleas affirm the scheme’s depth. True justice requires vigilance against government betrayal of conservative values like rule of law.