Albuquerque –
Earlier today a former Albuquerque Police Department officer and a well known defense attorney have pleaded guilty to a multi-year bribery and extortion scheme involving DWI cases.
Neill Elsman, a former officer with the DWI unit, plead guilty Wednesday to accepting bribes, extortion, and conspiracy charges. Elsman was an active sworn officer, but had been on military duty leave since October 2023. He was called back to APD, which forced him to resign in August 2024. According to APD, Elsman stepped down before Internal Affairs could interview him.
Attorney Thomas Clear III, 67, accused of orchestrating the entire scheme, also plead guilty in Federal Court to multiple charges, including racketeering, bribery, and extortion. The charges were filed a day following the New Mexico Supreme Court’s decision to suspend Clear from practicing law within the state.
Prosecutors say Clear paid officers to dismiss DWI cases for his clients, with law enforcement officers receiving kickbacks in exchange for missing court dates or withholding evidence. The scheme, dubbed the “DWI Enterprise,” allegedly operated from 1995 until 2024, according to Clear’s indictment filed today.
So far a handful of disgraced former officers, Honorio Alba and Joshua Montaño, and Clear’s ex-paralegal, Ricardo Mendez, have also taken plea deals, naming Clear as the ringleader. A federal judge will determine their sentences in upcoming hearings.
In federal court documents, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police Department have been named as participating in the DWI scheme. However, as of this publication, only one named BCSO deputy has been identified. No officers of the NMSP has been named publicly to date.
Are they gonna charge the people that paid the bribes?
Looking forward to seeing Tom Clear spend some time in a Federal Prison. He’s led a charmed life taking advantage of the system….Tom, If you read this Good Riddance. Kiss your Humvee and cushy home goodbye sucker.
So, for about 30 years (that we know of) drunk drivers were allowed to continue driving (ostensibly drunk) by paying bribes. I wonder how many innocent people were affected by this disgusting practice. How many people died? How many were injured? How many lives were adversely affected because these drunk drivers were not held accountable for their behavior? It makes me sick to think about it. Last I heard, paying bribes was illegal, too. They ALL deserve to be held accountable!
At least the judges will be Feds and hopefully deal out real punishment.
FUCK THE POLICE
The majority of cops are good people. The DWI enterprise people represent a very small percentage of the entire police community. Same thing with most segments of our society.
There is no room for bribery by anyone who is employed and or elected by any government entity in the United States of America.
[…] officers who have been implicated so far, including two who pleaded guilty last week, another who pleaded guilty the same day as Clear, and 10 more who were placed on administrative leave and/or resigned, they […]
[…] officers who have been implicated so far, including two who pleaded guilty last week, another who pleaded guilty the same day as Clear, and 10 more who were placed on administrative leave and/or resigned, they […]
[…] officers who have been implicated so far, including two who pleaded guilty last week, another who pleaded guilty the same day as Clear, and 10 more who were placed on administrative leave and/or resigned, they […]
[…] officers who have been implicated so far, including two who pleaded guilty last week, another who pleaded guilty the same day as Clear, and 10 more who were placed on administrative leave and/or resigned, they […]
[…] Albuquerque Police Officer Neill Elsman – resigned on July 31, 2024. Took a plea deal on February 12, 2025. […]
[…] Albuquerque Police Officer Neill Elsman – resigned on July 31, 2024. Took a plea deal on February 12, 2025. […]