Bexar County deputy arrested on public corruption charges

Armando Trevino faces charges related to bribery and smuggling heroin and Suboxone into the Bexar County jail. Armando Trevino faces charges related to bribery and smuggling heroin and Suboxone into the Bexar County jail. Photo: / Photo: / Image 1 of / 95 Caption Close Bexar County deputy arrested on public corruption charges 1 / 95 Back to Gallery

A deputy with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Saturday on public corruption charges related to bribery and smuggling heroin and Suboxone, which is often used to treat opioid addiction, into the Bexar County Jail.

Armando Trevino, who has been employed by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for five years, faces charges of bribery and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, Sheriff Javier Salazar announced at a news conference.

At Salazar’s side Saturday night was Christopher H. Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office. The agency worked with the sheriff’s office on the case.

Trevino, 30, is a corporal. He has been smuggling the drugs into the facility for several years and an investigation into his actions has been going on for some time, Salazar said.

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“He’s been on our radar,” Salazar said. “He’s very resourceful. He went to great lengths to conceal his crimes.”

A deputy with the public integrity unit learned that Trevino was planning to meet with a civilian Saturday to get drugs and officers set up surveillance.

They saw Trevino do just that at a gas station near Broadway and Loop 410, Salazar said. Trevino was in uniform at the time and had a weapon.

“It was pretty clear to everybody that he was on his way to work to smuggle these drugs into the Bexar County Jail, but we placed him under arrest before that could be completed,” Salazar said.

Authorities also arrested the civilian, Rudy De La Cruz, who is facing the same charges. De La Cruz, 33, is not employed by the Sheriff’s Office.

Trevino is the latest in a string of deputies arrested this year.

A Bexar County jailer turned himself in to authorities Friday afternoon after being indicted this week for allegedly pushing an inmate last year.

Detention Deputy Markese Djuan Shands is charged with official oppression, according to the sheriff's office. He turned himself in at 3:30 p.m. on a warrant that was issued for the indictment, officials said.

Less than two weeks ago, a Bexar County jailer was arrested and another was fired after an inmate died following a medical incident.

Detention Deputy Mishal Mathew was arrested and charged with tampering with a government record. Probationary Deputy Lucio Camacho was terminated but is not facing charges because there is no evidence he falsified records.

During Saturday’s press conference, Salazar highlighted his efforts to root out bad actors.

“It’s infuriating,” Salazar said. “It’s insulting and it’s an affront to the other 1,500 deputies I have in this agency that just want to come to work and protect and serve and do a great job and provide for their families.”

“Folks like this are totally disrespecting everybody that wears that badge,” he added.

madison.iszler@express-news.net