Rosanna Aguilera | San Angelo Standard-Times

SAN ANGELO — Former San Angelo Police Chief Tim R. Vasquez was arrested Friday on charges of public corruption, according to a news release.

The arrest was the result of over four years of investigation between the Texas Rangers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“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," said police chief Frank Carter.

"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.”

Standard-Times file

A federal grand jury indicted Vasquez after an investigation by the FBI Dallas Field Office, announced Erin Nealy Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

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.

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“We must insist that law enforcement leaders personify integrity,” Nealy Cox said. “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 Matthew J. DeSarno, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office. “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.”

Michelle Gaitan / San Angelo Standard-Times

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

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, the indictment stated.

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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.

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

In April, 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, according to the indictment.

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

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

By 2015, Vasquez and Funky Monkey 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, the release states.

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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, Vasquez indicated he wanted to “use the same vendor” for the new equipment, and urged the City Manager to support Vendor 1, according to the indictment.

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.

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, Vasquez endorsed the $50,000 check and deposited the entire amount into his personal bank account, according to the indictment.

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In total, 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, the indictment states.

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, Vasquez faces up to 70 years in federal person.

The FBI and the Texas Rangers, with the full cooperation of the San Angelo Police Department and the City of San Angelo, conducted the investigation, according to the release.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Haag and Chad Meacham are prosecuting the case.