The Webb County sheriff and his assistant chief appeared in federal court in Houston following allegations that they misappropriated funds from the Webb County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that Martin Cuellar Jr., 67, and Alejandro Gutierrez, 47, both residents of Laredo, turned themselves in and made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan.
A five-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on November 19, 2025. The indictment alleges that between 2020 and 2022, Cuellar and Gutierrez conspired with others to misuse WCSO funds.
According to the indictment, Cuellar, Gutierrez, and former assistant chief Ricardo Rodriguez used WCSO staff and resources to operate a for-profit disinfecting business called Disinfect Pro Master during the pandemic. The business was established in April 2020 and entered into agreements with local businesses despite not having its own employees or supplies. The indictment states that WCSO employees managed daily operations from the sheriff’s office, where they picked up schedules and equipment for disinfecting services performed both during work hours and outside them.
The charges further allege that Disinfect Pro Master secured a $500,000 contract to clean schools in United Independent School District in Laredo using WCSO staff and resources while incurring minimal overhead costs. Profits were allegedly split evenly among Cuellar, Gutierrez, and Rodriguez—each receiving about $175,000—with part of Cuellar's proceeds reportedly used to buy property in Laredo.
If convicted on these charges, both Cuellar and Gutierrez face up to ten years in federal prison along with a potential fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, Cuellar faces money laundering charges which could result in an extra ten-year sentence plus another fine of up to $250,000 or twice the value involved in the real estate transaction.
Rodriguez previously pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on March 16; he is currently free on bond pending that hearing.
The FBI - San Antonio division along with the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General conducted this investigation as part of the Laredo Border Corruption Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Winter and Robert Johnson are prosecuting the case.
"An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law."
