Former ICE agent faces up to 10 years in jail

October 1, 2008 - 8:33PM
By Emma Perez-Trevino, The Brownsville Herald
A former news Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent faces up to 10 years in jail for stealing more than $10,000 from the government, federal court records show.

Juan Enrique Polanco, 38, pleaded guilty to a theft charge Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas.

There is no plea agreement. Hanen will sentence Polanco on Jan. 13, 2009, following a pre-sentence investigation.

Polanco is free on a $25,000 unsecured bond.

In a written statement, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle said Polanco admitted to submitting fraudulent vouchers between April 1 and June 29, 2007, associated with his assigned move from Eagle Pass to Raymondville.

"The fraudulently filed vouchers resulted in the government overpaying Polanco in excess of $10,000," DeGabrielle said.

Besides a prison sentence, Polanco also faces a possible fine of $250,000 for the Class C felony offense.

Records show Polanco was indicted July 14. Attorney Reynaldo G. Garza III represents him.

Public records also show the government's investigation lasted more than a year and produced hundreds of documents and evidence, including financial, banking, school, maintenance, payroll, personnel, insurance and travel records.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Rodriguez is the prosecutor.

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