DALLAS — A former Mission Assist Specialist (MSS) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) in Dallas pleaded responsible Thursday to stealing authorities property.
This responsible plea was introduced by U.S. Lawyer John Parker of the Northern District of Texas. This case was investigated by particular brokers with ICE’s Workplace of Skilled Accountability (OPR) in Houston.
Dwight Horton, 51, a resident of Grand Prairie, Texas, appeared in federal courtroom Thursday earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Renée Harris Toliver and pleaded responsible to a felony Info charging one depend of theft of presidency property. Horton faces a most statutory penalty of 10 years in federal jail and a $250,000 high-quality.
In line with the plea settlement filed on this case, Horton agrees to pay $35,000 restitution to HSI. He’ll stay on bond pending sentencing, which is ready for Nov. 16 earlier than U.S. District Decide Ed Kinkeade.
“There’s little doubt that the overwhelming majority of federal authorities workers are good stewards of the taxpayers’ cash,” stated Charles Anderson, particular agent in control of ICE’s Workplace of Skilled Accountability in San Antonio. “This inner investigation and ensuing responsible plea, nevertheless, present there might be penalties to these only a few who cheat the system by unlawfully lining their very own pockets.” Anderson oversees the OPR workplace in Houston.
In line with paperwork filed within the case, this investigation started in September 2014 when ICE OPR in Houston obtained a referral from HSI Dallas indicating that MSS Horton used a authorities fleet cost (credit score) card to buy automotive provides with out authorization and for his private acquire.
This investigation revealed that on a number of events, Horton used his authorities fleet cost card to buy a set of 4 tires from a minimum of two tire shops in Dallas. On every of these events, he took the tires with him reasonably than having them put in on a automobile. The HSI Dallas workplace doesn’t have a upkeep space/store for mechanics to put in tires on fleet automobiles.
This investigation additional revealed that Horton used his authorities fleet cost card to buy window tint. He additionally used the cost card to buy gasoline at a Tom Thumb in Grand Prairie for his personally owned automobiles.
Horton resigned his place at HSI Dallas Oct. 14, 2014.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Aaron Wiley, Northern District of Texas, is in control of the prosecution.
