BCSO Sheriff Asks Undersheriff to Resign Amid FBI Investigation in DWI Scandal

Albuquerque –

As we reported to you this morning, Bernalillo County Undersheriff Johann Jareno was reportedly being eyed by the Feds as part of the DWI Enterprise. Purportedly, Federal authorities showed up at Undersheriff Jareno’s house over the weekend.

On Monday, February 24, 2025, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen issued the following statement regarding Undersheriff Johann Jareno:

On February 22, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation informed me of an ongoing inquiry that implicates a member of our command staff in the broader investigation into DWI case manipulations. Given the seriousness of the investigation, I took immediate action to preserve the integrity of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. To prevent any potential conflicts of interest and ensure our agency’s focus remains on our mission, I requested and received the resignation of Undersheriff Johann Jareno, effective immediately on February 23, 2025. Mr. Jareno began his employment with BCSO in March 2009, serving in the DWI Unit from December 2011 until October 2019, and was appointed Undersheriff in January 2023.

Overall, the ongoing DWI investigation has shed light on deep-seated issues in law enforcement that predate my administration, which began in January 2023. I am profoundly disappointed by these revelations, which undermine the hard-earned trust between the community and law enforcement. As Sheriff, my foremost responsibility is to safeguard the trust and safety of our community, which we can only achieve through transparency and ethical conduct.

We are fully cooperating with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure that all aspects of this investigation are thoroughly addressed. I am grateful for the FBI bringing this new development to my attention directly and due to the ongoing nature of this federal inquiry, our comments must be measured, but be assured that transparency and communication will continue to be a priority of my administration.

We are undertaking a thorough review of our internal policies and control mechanisms to prevent such incidents in the future. Part of this initiative includes the creation of a new Accountability and Compliance role, enhancing our ability to monitor and enforce ethical conduct within our ranks. The trust between the public and law enforcement is sacred, and I am committed to actions that strengthen this bond. We will be proactive in strengthening this relationship through continuous improvement of our operational practices and technological capabilities. This includes enhancements to our monitoring of court attendances and other critical areas of our operations.

I am grateful for the community’s support and patience as we navigate these challenging times. We will emerge from this challenge stronger and more committed to serving with honor and integrity. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure our department reflects the high standards expected by the people of Bernalillo County.

Thank you,

Sheriff John Allen

Undersheriff Jareno is the second BCSO deputy mentioned in the ever expanding DWI Enterprise Scheme. APD has 13 officers that have been placed on leave, resigned or retired. The New Mexico State Police have one officer that’s been named.

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

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Albuquerque Police Lieutenant Matthew Chavez – put on administrative leave on January 24, 2025
• Retired Albuquerque Police Officer Timothy McCarson (retired when named, not a current officer)
• Bernalillo County Sheriff Deputy Jeff  Hammerel placed on administrative leave on January 24, 2025.
• Bernalillo County Sheriff Deputy Undersheriff Johann Jareno resigned February 23, 2025
• New Mexico State Police Sergeant Toby Lafave placed on administrative leave on February 14, 2025.