Former West Texas sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for extortion
MIDLAND, Texas — A former Ector County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Thursday to 15 months in federal prison for extortion “under color of law.”
Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case jointly with the FBI.
David Oscar Limon, 47, was also ordered to pay a $13,200 fine and perform 100 hours of community service while on three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.
Limon must surrender to federal authorities within the next 60 days to begin serving his prison term.
On May 11, 2017, Limon pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act extortion under color of law, or affecting commerce by extortion. By pleading guilty, Limon admitted that while serving as an Ector County (Texas) Sheriff’s deputy between January 2010 and June 10, 2016, he extorted over $13,000 from several Odessa game-room owners in exchange for protection for their game rooms, and information about law enforcement actions that affected their operations. (“Color of law” refers to an appearance of legal power that may actually operate in violation of law.)
“This sentence sends a clear message to any law enforcement officer who chooses to break the laws they were sworn to uphold,” said Waldemar Rodriguez, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI special agents will continue to build strong relationships with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals in positions of public trust to the highest of standards.”
The Ector County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this investigation.
U.S. Attorney LaTawn Warsaw, Western District of Texas, prosecuted this case.
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