Albuquerque Police Officer Admits to Setting Up DWI Arrests in Bribery Scheme

Former officer Justin Hunt pleads guilty to federal extortion charge for his role in the DWI Dismissal Scandal

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:07pm

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Former Albuquerque Police Department officer Justin Hunt has pled guilty to a federal extortion charge, confessing to participating in a long-running DWI dismissal scheme. Hunt admitted to working with a law firm to set up DWI arrests, have the cases dismissed for a fee, and receive bribes in return for not showing up to court hearings.

Why it matters

This case highlights widespread corruption within the Albuquerque Police Department, with multiple officers admitting to involvement in the DWI Dismissal Scandal. It raises concerns about public trust in law enforcement and the integrity of the criminal justice system in the city.

The details

According to Hunt's plea agreement, he worked with a law firm and a paralegal named Ricardo "Rick" Mendez for over 10 years to coordinate DWI arrests, have the cases dismissed for a fee paid to the law firm, and receive bribes in the form of vehicle parts and modifications. Mendez would allegedly take DWI suspects to a strip club, buy them drinks, and then contact Hunt to pull them over and arrest them, ensuring the law firm could then get the case dismissed for a fee.

  • In May 2014, Hunt pulled over a driver he had been tipped off about by Mendez.
  • Over the course of 10 years, Hunt participated in the DWI Dismissal Scandal scheme.

The players

Justin Hunt

A former officer with the Albuquerque Police Department who pled guilty to a federal extortion charge for his role in the DWI Dismissal Scandal.

Ricardo "Rick" Mendez

A paralegal who worked with Hunt and a law firm to coordinate DWI arrests, get the cases dismissed for a fee, and provide bribes to Hunt.

Thomas Clear III

A now-disbarred defense attorney who was involved in the DWI Dismissal Scandal scheme with Hunt and Mendez.

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What they’re saying

“You're driving right down the middle of two lanes here on San Mateo man, then you pull in the turn lane, you don't use your turn signal, and hear me out, I'm trying to tell you why I stopped you, okay? And then you come to an abrupt stop. There's not even any other traffic around.”

— Officer Justin Hunt

“What's 'not much' mean? Not much to drink?”

— Officer Justin Hunt

What’s next

Hunt faces less than 5 years in prison as part of his plea deal, and no sentencing date has been set yet. The federal investigation has implicated 10 Albuquerque police officers so far, and 5 others could still face criminal charges.

The takeaway

This scandal has severely eroded public trust in the Albuquerque Police Department, highlighting the need for greater accountability and transparency within the department to restore confidence in the criminal justice system.