NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.
In a stunning development that has shaken federal immigration enforcement circles, a former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and three bail bondsmen have been indicted for allegedly orchestrating a bribery scheme to manipulate the immigration detainer process.
According to a July 2, 2025 press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Jose Angel Muniz, 51, of Texas, who served in ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division, was arrested and charged alongside three other individuals: Leopoldo Perrault Benitez, Anthony Benitez, and Isaac Sierra. Prosecutors allege the men conspired to pay Muniz in exchange for lifting immigration detainers on individuals in ICE custody, allowing them to be released from detention rather than deported.
The scheme, which reportedly took place between April 2023 and March 2024, involved bribes paid to Muniz by bondsmen working for or associated with A Way Out Bail Bonds and International Bonding Company. Leopoldo Benitez, the owner of A Way Out Bail Bonds, allegedly led the conspiracy with assistance from his son, Andrew Benitez, and co-defendant Isaac Sierra.
The indictment claims that Muniz used his position within ICE to falsify internal records and remove holds on non-citizen detainees in exchange for cash payments. These actions violated federal immigration enforcement protocols and undermined the integrity of the detention and removal system.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas condemned the conduct, stating, “The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of corruption by federal officers extremely seriously—especially those who are charged with protecting our national security and public safety. There is zero tolerance for bribery or manipulation of our immigration system.”
All four defendants were taken into federal custody and appeared in court in Houston, where they were ordered to remain detained pending further legal proceedings. If convicted, each individual faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or the total value of the bribes exchanged—whichever is greater.
The case is being jointly investigated by the FBI and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. Officials emphasized that the indictment is not a finding of guilt, but a formal accusation. All four men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty through the judicial process.
This incident comes at a time when ICE and other federal immigration agencies are facing increased public scrutiny and political criticism. A recent Department of Homeland Security report noted a dramatic rise in verbal and physical attacks against ICE officers, driven in part by public distrust and political rhetoric.
Officials warn that misconduct such as this only fuels broader skepticism and undermines public confidence in federal law enforcement. The case is expected to proceed to trial in the coming months.
PLAY:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDM5LHQFGjg
