Houston ICE Corruption Scandal: Four Charged in Bribery Scheme
A shocking case of alleged corruption has rocked the immigration enforcement community as four individuals were taken into custody on accusations of exchanging money to lift immigration detainers, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The arrests were announced today, July 2, 2025, exposing a troubling breach within the system tasked with securing the nation’s borders.
The indicted individuals—Houston residents Leopoldo Perrault Benitez, 53, his son Anthony Benitez, 32, Isaac Sierra, 51, and Jose Angel Muniz, 51, from La Porte—made their initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray, where the indictment was unsealed. All four were ordered into custody pending further proceedings. The federal grand jury returned the indictment on June 24, outlining a year-long scheme.
According to the charges, Leopoldo Benitez owned A Way Out Bail Bonds in Houston, with his son Anthony working as an employee. Isaac Sierra was employed at International Bonding Company, while Muniz held a position as a deportation officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). Between April 2023 and March 2024, prosecutors allege the three bail bondsmen paid Muniz to remove immigration detainers, allowing illegal aliens in ICE custody awaiting removal to be released.
“The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of corruption by federal officers extremely seriously, particularly those entrusted with keeping our border secure and nation safe,” Ganjei stated emphatically. “There is no room whatsoever for bribery or side deals when it comes to immigration enforcement.” His words underscore the gravity of the betrayal within an agency critical to national security.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine equivalent to the value of the bribes exchanged or $250,000, whichever is greater. The investigation was conducted by the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility and the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes leading the prosecution.
This case has ignited outrage and raised questions about the integrity of immigration enforcement in Texas, a state already grappling with border security challenges. As the legal process unfolds, the public awaits further details on the extent of the scheme and its impact on detained individuals
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/bail-bondsmen-and-former-federal-officer-indicted-immigration-related-bribery-case