Former federal prison officer pleads guilty to sexual abuse of inmates

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Two men have been convicted of gun law violations in separate cases in the Eastern Panhandle, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Kevin Nicholas Munroe, 32, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months in a federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm and violating an interstate protection order. Court documents show West Virginia State Police investigated a shooting incident that led them to Munroe, who had an active domestic violence protection order against him in Los Angeles, California. Although he is prohibited from possessing firearms, Munroe was found in Martinsburg with a .45 caliber revolver. He will also serve three years of probation after his prison sentence.

Mario Adonte Crawley, 52, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 21 months in a federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm. During a traffic stop in Kearneysville, W.Va., a search of Crawley's vehicle revealed a loaded 9 mm handgun. Crawley is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions for assault, obstruction of justice and armed robbery in Virginia and the District of Columbia. He will be released on three years' probation after serving his sentence.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Kane and Lara Omps-Botteicher.

McALLEN, Texas — The interim mayor and city manager of Edcouch, Texas, have been arrested on charges of public corruption, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced. Victor Hugo De La Cruz, 40, the city manager, and Rene Flores, 60, the interim mayor, were taken into custody following an indictment by a federal grand jury.

Both officers are scheduled to make their first court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker on September 13. The indictment was filed on September 2 and unsealed after their arrests.

The indictment stems from allegations that De La Cruz and Flores solicited bribes from the owner of a Brownsville marketing company between June and September 2019. The business owner received two $3,000 payments for marketing services he allegedly provided to the city of Edcouch. In return, the indictment alleges, the business owner made two $1,000 bribes to Flores.

De La Cruz and Flores are charged with conspiracy, bribery in connection with programs receiving federal funds, and using a facility in interstate commerce to facilitate bribery. If convicted, both face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the bribery charges. They also face up to five years in prison on the conspiracy and interstate commerce charges.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Jacob Salcido, 40, a former correctional officer at Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Lexington, pleaded guilty today to three counts of sexual abuse of a ward, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Salcido admitted to engaging in sexual conduct with three female inmates between September 5, 2020, and December 21, 2020, while on duty as a correctional officer.

As part of his plea agreement, Salcido admitted that based on his training and experience, he was fully aware that any sexual contact between FMC employees and inmates is strictly prohibited and a federal crime. Nevertheless, Salcido abused his position of power and engaged in illicit sexual intercourse with inmates under his care.

“Jacob Salcido blatantly abused his power as a correctional officer by sexually assaulting three women in his care,” said Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The Department of Justice's commitment to rooting out sexual abuse within the ranks of the Federal Bureau of Prisons continues in every case we prosecute.”

Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz also condemned Salcido's actions, finding that Salcido “abused his authority and sexually abused three inmates who were in his custody and care.” He emphasized the commitment of the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) to investigate such violations and bring those responsible to justice.

U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky added: “This disgraceful conduct has caused lasting harm to its victims. It has also undermined trust in loyal public servants, in those who honorably discharge their civic duties.”

Salcido's sentencing is scheduled for December 13. He faces penalties for abuse of power and breach of trust as a prison officer.