Another DWI Connected APD Officer on Leave After IA Implicates Him During Internal Investigation

Albuquerque –

On March 24, 2025, the Albuquerque Police Department announced that a current sergeant, once a member of the DWI Unit, was put on leave as part of the ongoing internal investigation into misconduct by past unit members.

APD was notified today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office identified Sergeant Lucas Perez as Giglio-impaired as a result of the federal investigation into a criminal conspiracy. That means the District Attorney’s Office could add Sgt. Perez to the Brady-Giglio disclosure list, which raises concerns about their credibility if they were to ever testify in court. We learned that being on this list is not always career-ending for officers. There are currently APD officers working in detective positions and other roles who remain employed with the department. The officers we observed on the list have never been part of the DWI unit yet were still added to the Giglio list for various reasons.

APD placed Sgt. Perez on administrative leave today as part of its own internal investigation into the ever growing scandal.

Sgt. Perez has been with the department since 2016. Sgt. Perez previously served in the DWI Unit and later tested to become the unit’s sergeant.

APD was also notified today that former DWI officer Nelson Ortiz plead guilty in federal court, admitting to his role in the longtime conspiracy with a local attorney and his paralegal to get DWI cases dismissed in exchange for cash and gifts. Ortiz was one of the first four APD officers put on leave back in January of 2024. Ortiz resigned from APD on March 24, 2024 as investigators were attempting to schedule an interview with him.

APD created an Internal Affairs Task Force to conduct all administrative investigations into alleged misconduct by current and former DWI officers. The primary administrative investigation was initiated on Jan. 23, 2024. APD Commander Kyle Hartsock is overseeing the investigations, which will be submitted to the Superintendent of Police Reform to determine whether APD policies were followed. Commander Hartsock was once upon a time a member of BCSO’s DWI unit which is most likely what led APD to entrust him with this important position.

The FBI is conducting a separate, criminal investigation into allegations of illegal conduct. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will determine whether any criminal charges will be filed against individuals accused of violating federal laws.

Ten APD officers have left the department, and three officers are currently on administrative leave, as a result of the investigation. Four of the officers who have left the department have since plead guilty to federal charges for their roles in the DWI conspiracy. One retired APD officer has also since been implicated in the conspiracy and placed on the Brady-Giglio disclosure list.

Who They Are:

• Albuquerque Police Lieutenant Justin Hunt – resigned on February 7, 2024
• Commander Mark Landavazo – put on admin leave on February 13, 2024, and terminated on Aug 1, 2024
• Albuquerque Police Officer Honorio Alba – resigned on February 29, 2024. Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.
• Albuquerque Police Officer Harvey Johnson – resigned on March 13, 2024
• Albuquerque Police Officer Nelson Ortiz – resigned on March 15, 2024
• Albuquerque Police Officer Joshua Montaño – resigned on March 20, 2024. Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.
• Albuquerque Police Officer Daren DeAguero – resigned on April 30, 2024
• Albuquerque Police Officer Matthew Trahan – put on administrative leave on May 8, 2024, and retired on October 19, 2024
• Albuquerque Police Officer Neill Elsman – resigned on July 31, 2024. Took a plea deal on February 12, 2025.
• Albuquerque Police Deputy Commander Gustavo Gomez – put on administrative leave on October 16, 2024
• Albuquerque Police Lieutenant Kyle Curtis – put on administrative leave on January 24, 2025. Retired on January 28, 2025.
• Albuquerque Police Lieutenant Matthew Chavez – put on administrative leave on January 24, 2025
• Retired Albuquerque Police Officer Timothy McCarson – retired when named on January 24, 2025, not a current officer
• Albuquerque Police Sgt. Lucas Perez – put on administrative leave on March 24, 2025.
• Bernalillo County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Hammerel – placed on administrative leave on January 24, 2025, and resigned on February 25, 2025. Took a plea deal on February 25, 2025.
• New Mexico State Police Sergeant Toby Lafave – placed on administrative leave on February 14, 2025.
• Bernalillo County Sheriff Deputy Undersheriff Johann Jareno – named and resigned on February 23, 2025
• Bernalillo County Sheriff Deputy Jeffry Bartram – put on admin leave on March 7, 2025.

Ricardo (Rick) Mendez took a plea deal on January 24, 2025. US Magistrate Judge Karen B. Molzen granted Mendez’s request to travel internationally and reportedly, the acting US Attorney didn’t object. On February 12, 2025, Thomas Clear III took a plea deal for his role in this scheme. A second attorney, Rudy Chavez, has also allegedly been implicated based on court documents. In Mendez’s and Alba’s plea agreements, Chavez has been named as a co-conspirator. Chavez has explicitly denied being involved in the “DWI Enterprise Scandal.”

As of this publication, 13 current APD officers, one retired APD officer, three BCSO deputies, and one NMSP officer have either been implicated or placed on administrative leave due to the DWI investigation.

Four former APD officers have been indicted and took plea deals: Neill Elsman, Honorio Alba, Joshua Montaño, and Nelson Ortiz. Anyone else named is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.