Date: 10-16-2014

Case Style: United States of America v. Jose Luis Bedoy

Case Number: 3:13-cr-00442-M

Judge: M

Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (Dallas County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Errin Martin and P.J. Meitl

Defendant's Attorney: Dan Hagood, JohnHelms, Marc Tecce and Bob Webster

Description: DALLAS, TX — A detective who worked in the Dallas Police Department’s (DPD) Vice Unit, Jose Luis Bedoy, 40, of Dallas, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury on all four counts of an indictment charging obstruction of official proceedings and obstruction of the due administration of justice, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Each of the three counts of obstruction of an official proceeding carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The one count of obstruction of due administration of justice carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Bedoy will remain on bond pending sentencing, which is set for February 2015, before U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn.

Bedoy worked in DPD’s Vice Unit from November 28, 2007 through July 2013. The government presented evidence at trial that in early 2009, after a DPD Vice raid on an adult entertainment establishment, Bedoy met a female prostitute who worked at that establishment. Later, when she tried to reclaim property DPD seized during the raid, Bedoy assisted her.

Bedoy later contacted her and expressed an interest in seeing her and wanting a massage from her. A relationship ensued between the two and they began communicating, with Bedoy giving her advice on the adult entertainment establishments at which she could work. Bedoy later met her for a massage, and during the massage, he explained how to screen her clients to avoid being arrested. Bedoy and the female began an intimate relationship.

From 2009 until 2013, while they were engaged in a sexual relationship, Bedoy provided law enforcement-sensitive information to her about DPD Vice Unit prostitution raids and other enforcement actions. In January 2013, Bedoy met her at her residence and showed her a DPD investigative case file targeting “Wet,” an adult entertainment establishment, which he had brought with him. Two days later, Wet was raided, and after the raid, Bedoy arranged to meet her at her residence.

When the Coppell Police Department began an investigation of “Studio Serene,” an adult entertainment establishment, it enlisted the help of the DPD Vice Unit in its investigation. In March 2013, Bedoy advised the female that Studio Serene was being targeted and advised her against working there. Bedoy told her that the information was only for her benefit, but she relayed the information to Studio Serene’s owner. Based on that information, Studio Serene closed for a number of days.

After it reopened on April 25, 2013, however, the Coppell Police Department and the DPD Vice Unit raided Studio Serene. In subsequent interviews they conducted, members of the Coppell Police Department were informed that a DPD Vice Unit detective, named “Jose,” later identified as Bedoy, had “tipped off” the business weeks earlier about the pending raid.

On multiple occasions, Bedoy instructed the female on how to avoid being arrested while using Backpage.com for prostitution. He advised her to not only change her phone number every two weeks, but also advised her of the best days and times to work and the best days and times to avoid. On June 25, 2013, Bedoy contacted her to ensure that she wasn’t working Backpage.com during that week because DPD Vice was “working Backpage” that week. In fact, that same day, DPD Vice Unit, including Bedoy, and the FBI conducted a joint operation that was designed to deter prostitution by directing enforcement efforts at Internet-based prostitution.

As a result of Bedoy’s conduct, FBI and federal grand jury investigations were initiated. After learning of the investigation, Bedoy obstructed the federal grand jury proceeding by telling the female to move, to never give her real name if she is pulled over by law enforcement, to not let the FBI into her apartment to talk to her, and to change her cell phone so that there would be no link between them. Bedoy also lied to law enforcement about his contacts with the female and whether he provided her with sensitive law enforcement information.

The FBI and the DPD’s Public Integrity Unit investigated.

Outcome: See above

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: