“A-Way-Out! Bail Bonds” is one of many locations of its kind in downtown Houston. Taken on October 17, 2019.
A Houston bail bondsman and federal immigration officer are among four people indicted on bribery charges in connection with an alleged kickback scheme to lift immigration detainers on jail inmates.
The charges were filed against bondsman Leopoldo Benitez, 53; his son Anthony Benitez, 32; and 51-year-old Isaac Sierra, the latter of whom worked at International Bonding Company, 1001 N. San Jacinto St. Leopoldo Benitez owns A Way Out Bail Bonds, 1601 Congress St. in Houston.
Jose Angel Muniz, 51, a deportation officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), also is facing charges in the alleged scheme. He is accused of accepting bribe money from the bail bonds employees to lift immigration holds on incarcerated people in the Harris County Jail, meaning they could be released from jail on bonds without being detained by ICE.
A news release from the U.S. Department of Justice did not provide additional details about the allegations made against the men. An indictment, signed June 24, was under seal in online court records.
The alleged kickback scheme happened between April 2023 and March 2024. If the men are convicted, each faces up to 15 years in prison and fines equal to the bribes offered or up to $250,000.
Attorneys representing Leopoldo Benitez, Sierra and Muniz did not immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday. An ICE spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry about Muniz’s employment status.
Judy Shields, an attorney representing Anthony Benitez, declined to comment, saying she “had not had an adequate opportunity to become familiar with the case other than to read the indictment.”
The indictments come almost a year after at least 50 people connected to a bail bond fraud scheme were arrested during a multi-agency operation led by the FBI.
“The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of corruption by federal officers extremely seriously, particularly those entrusted with keeping our border secure and nation safe,” Nicholas Ganjei, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, said in a statement.