ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has placed Deputy Jeffry Bartram on paid administrative in connection to the DWI dismissal scandal, according to Deanna Aragon, a BCSO spokesperson. “The sheriff wants the public to know that he is being methodical and aggressive in his approach and is continuing to work with the FBI on this active and ongoing investigation,” said Aragon in an email on Wednesday.
Bartram has been with the department since 2010. He served in the DWI Unit from July 2014 – August 2020. Bartram is the third BCSO employee to be linked to the scandal.
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Last month Undersheriff Johann Jareno resigned from BCSO. Deputy Jeff Hammerel resigned and pleaded guilty to charges in connection to the scandal in February 2025. According to federal investigators, Defense Attorney Thomas Clear III and Paralegal Ricardo “Rick” Mendez worked with law enforcement to get drivers to pay to have their DWI case was dismissed or not filed.
In addition to the three BCSO employees connected to the scandal; 13 Albuquerque Police Department officers and one New Mexico State Police Sergeant have been connected. On Monday the New Mexico board that disciplines attorneys publicly announced Rudolph “Rudy” Chavez was part of a public corruption scandal.
KRQE is sifting through documents and is working to provide an update.