A Texas officer funded his failed political campaign with drug money, officials have claimed.
Geovani Hernandez ran for sheriff in Hidalgo County in 2012 and 2014, promising the locals he could protect them from the drugs and violence spilling over the border from Mexico.
‘What happens here affects the rest of the United States of America,’ Hernandez, 43, told the Rio Grande Guardian at the time.
During a year-long investigation in which informants wore hidden recording devices, he admitted to working with the Mexico-based Gulf Cartel and using it to finance his political career, the Washington Post reports.
Geovani Hernandez funded his failed political campaign with drug money, officials have claimed. Hernandez (pictured in a campaign video) ran for sheriff in Hidalgo County in 2012 and 2014, promising the locals he could protect them from the drugs and violence spilling over the border from Mexico
He even appeared in a music video in 2016 for a ‘narcocorrido’ – a genre of of Mexican folk songs which celebrate criminals – in which he played the part of a corrupt cop.
He could be seen performing a raid in the song ‘6000 kilos’ by Gerardo Hernandez which also featured several busy and scantily clad women lounging by a luxurious swimming pool.
The case against Hernandez began in August 2016 when a confidential informant received a tip that police officers – Hernandez included – were helping drug runners.
The informant approached the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations division and so began ‘Operation Blue Shame’.
Hernandez (left) even appeared in a music video in 2016 for a ‘narcocorrido’ – a genre of of Mexican folk songs which celebrate criminals – in which he played the part of a corrupt cop
A second informant was sent to meet with Hernandez in May this year. During the meeting, the cop allegedly boasted that he was ‘close friends’ with slain Gulf Cartel boss Juan Manuel Loza-Salinas.
He said the connection allowed him to travel into cartel territory ‘without any problems’ and that he needed money to fund his campaign for Hidalgo County Constable.
Hernandez then agreed to run license plate checks for some non-existent cars the informant said he wanted to sneak across the border for $1,000, according to court papers.
Once he had established trust with Hernandez, the informant reportedly asked for help in transporting a car with ‘items’ across Texas for split of $10,000
The cop told him ‘not to tell him what the vehicle would be transporting, not to discuss any details on their current cellphones, and to buy new cellphones,’ court documents stated.
Authorities loaded the car with 10kg of powder, one of which was actual cocaine, in July and Hernandez did indeed help its transport.
The case against Hernandez (pictured in the music video) began in August 2016 when a confidential informant received a tip that police officers – Hernandez included – were helping drug runners
He was arrested and brought before US Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos on August 14 and now faces charges of aiding and abetting, attempt to posses with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with attempt to distribute more than 5kg of cocaine.
If proven, it will be a dramatic fall from grace for a decorated cop who first began working as a jailer with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office in 1996, according to KRGV.
By 2010, he had allegedly worked as a police officer in six departments: Progreso, Alamo, Pharr, La Joya, Weslaco and La Villa.