USATXS-Public Affairs Atty

Subject: USAO News Release (indictment attached): Abercia Indicted

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2012 http://www.justice.gov/usao/txs/

ANGELA DODGE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER (713) 567-9388

AberciaIndicted
HOUSTONLongtimeHarrisCountyPrecinctOneConstableJackAberciahasbeenarrestedalongwithhis ChiefLieutenantWeldonKennethWienerandOfficeChiefMichaelButlerfollowingthereturnofa13count federalindictment,UnitedStatesAttorneyKennethMagidsonannouncedtodayalongwithFBISpecialAgent inChargeStephenL.Morris. ThesealedindictmentwasreturnedTuesday,Jan.10,2012,andwasunsealedinitsentiretyjustminutesago followingthearrestsofAbercia,78,Wiener,72,andButler,56,allofHouston. Theindictmentchargestheallthreewithconspiracytoviolatevariousfederallaws,andchargesAberciaand WienerwithunlawfullyaccessingtheNationalCrimeInformationCenter(NCIC)databaseonmultiple occasionsforprivatefinancialgain.AberciaandButlerarealsochargedwithbriberyinconnectionwiththe hiringofanotherwiseunqualifiedapplicantforadeputyconstablepositioninreturnforacashbribetotaling $5,000. Assistancefromthepublicisoftencriticalintheseveryimportantinvestigations,saidMorris.Anyonewith informationaboutpotentialwrongdoingbyapublicofficialisurgedtocontacttheFBI. Allthreearechargedwithconspiracy.AberciaandWienerarechargedin11countsallegingtheyaccessedthe NCICdatabaseorcausedanothertoaccessiton11occasionswithoutauthorityorinexcessofofficial authorityinreturnforprivatefinancialgain.AberciaandWienerwould,accordingtotheindictment,solicit andacceptcashbribesinreturnforhavingunauthorizedcriminalbackgroundchecksrunonprospective employeesofvariousbusinesses.NCICisrestrictedtogenuinelawenforcementpurposes.Usersmust undergotrainingandscreening,havepasswordsthataremonitoredandareinstructedthatthedatabaseis nottobeusedfornonlawenforcementreasonsnorbeyondintheperformanceoftheirofficialduties.While
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theindictmentcharges11specificactsofunauthorizedaccessoraccessinexcessofofficialauthorityin November2011,italsoallegesthepracticehadbeenoccurringintheofficeforalongerperiodoftime. ThebriberychargeinthefinalcountoftheindictmentallegesAberciaandButlerhiredanotherwise unqualifiedapplicanttobeadeputyconstableinexchangefora$5,000cashpayment.Accordingtothe indictment,Butlerphysicallyreceivedthemoney,throughanintermediary,andallegedlygaveAbercia$3,000, whilekeeping$2,000forhimself. AllthreemenareexpectedtoappearinfederalcourtlatertodaybeforeU.S.MagistrateJudgeMaryMilloy. Ifconvictedoftheconspiracycharge,allthreefaceuptofiveyearsinprison.AberciaandWienerwillalsoface anadditionalfiveyearsinprisonforeachcountofexceedingauthorizedcomputeraccess,whileAberciaand Butlercouldalsoreceiveanadditional10yearsinprisonifconvictedofthebriberycharge.All13countsalso includeapossiblefineof$250,000anduptothreeyearsofsupervisedreleaseoneachcount. ThiscasewasinvestigatedbytheFBIHoustonLawEnforcement/BorderCorruptionTaskForcewithspecial assistancefromtheHoustonPoliceDepartmentInternalAffairsDivisionandtheTexasRangersandisbeing prosecutedbyAssistantU.S.AttorneyMichaelWynne. Anindictmentisaformalaccusationofcriminalconduct,notevidence. Adefendantispresumedinnocentunlessconvictedthroughdueprocessoflaw. ###
H-12-010.pdf