Ministry of Transport border investigator confesses to extorting trucking company: Ministry of Justice

HOUSTON — A 54-year-old man pleaded guilty to extortion under cover of law, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said Friday.

According to a press release, Patrick Gorena of Lyford was a border investigator for the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Administration.

As part of his statement, Gorena acknowledged that when he inspected the trucking company, he did not report any safety violations that could expose the company to potential fines and loss of the DOT license. According to the prosecutor’s office, Gorena demanded $3,500 in return.

However, prosecutors said he ended up receiving $2,000 from an undercover law enforcement officer who posed as a representative of a transportation company.

Gorena faces up to 20 years in prison.

He was allowed to remain on bail pending a sentencing hearing.