Former Deputy Paul Jessen Indicted in New Mexico DWI Corruption Scheme

A Pit Boss grill and smoker. A Sharp large-screen television. Craftsman tools and a toolbox. Free legal representation while under investigation for tipping off federal drug targets. These are among the items former Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputy Paul Jessen Jr. allegedly accepted across six years in exchange for helping drunk drivers escape criminal and administrative penalties, according to a federal indictment returned Wednesday.

If convicted, the former deputy faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

The alleged conspiracy operated between March 2018 and January 2024, a span of nearly six years during which Jessen, Albuquerque attorney Thomas J. Clear III, and Clear’s paralegal Ricardo Mendez allegedly worked together to dismantle DWI prosecutions from within the justice system. Court documents describe a method built on strategic absence: Jessen would fail to appear at required criminal settings for DWI offenders who retained Clear, knowing that his absence would allow the defense attorney to seek dismissal of the proceedings. This tactic allegedly helped offenders avoid not only criminal convictions but also the administrative penalties that typically accompany DWI arrests, effectively erasing the legal consequences of driving while intoxicated for those who could afford Clear’s services.

From Cash Concerns to Consumer Electronics

The compensation structure evolved as the scheme matured over the years. After Jessen allegedly raised concerns with a co-conspirator—a senior BCSO deputy—about accepting cash for his role in the scheme, he instead agreed to receive gifts. The indictment details a steady stream of benefits including the Pit Boss grill and smoker, the Sharp large-screen television, Craftsman tools and a toolbox, along with alcohol, hotel rooms, and other perks passed between the conspirators during the course of the conspiracy.

The indictment alleges he accepted free legal services, including representation while he was under investigation for obstructing a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation and making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation—crimes for which he was convicted earlier this year. Rather than halting his alleged misconduct, the federal scrutiny appears to have run parallel to it, with Jessen continuing to accept benefits tied to the DWI scheme even as he faced separate charges for tipping off drug targets to federal agents. The shift from cash to gifts did not diminish the alleged corruption; prosecutors allege Jessen used his official position to ensure that cases disappeared from the docket when he simply failed to show up for hearings.

Thirteen Guilty Pleas Precede the First Indictment

Jessen stands as the first defendant to face a grand jury indictment in the sprawling probe, but he enters a courtroom where the conspiracy has already largely collapsed through cooperation. Thus far, thirteen people, including Clear and Mendez, have pleaded guilty to federal charges arising from their involvement in the scheme, according to the Justice Department.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI’s Albuquerque office made the announcement.

The scheme allegedly involved Jessen failing to appear at required criminal settings for DWI offenders who retained Clear, allowing the attorney to seek dismissal of the proceedings in exchange for items of value. Between March 2018 and January 2024, this arrangement allegedly allowed multiple DWI offenders to escape accountability entirely.

Jessen now awaits trial on the charge of conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right, a federal offense carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. As federal prosecutors emphasize, an indictment is merely an allegation, and Jessen remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.