Page:United States v. Delgado (19-20697) (2021) Opinion.pdf/8

 and “better than you sending me a text.” Delgado does not accept any payment with respect to Maldonado.

In November 2017, Perez set up another meeting with Delgado with plans to pay him $260 in FBI-supplied money to secure a client’s release on a PR bond. The client, Lucio Leija, had a motion to revoke probation pending in front of Delgado.

Perez picked up Delgado in his car and the two drove around while discussing Leija’s case. The exchange was captured by a wire recording and a video camera inside Perez’s car. Perez hands a copy of Leija’s motion to revoke to Delgado for his review. Delgado notes that Leija is facing ten years imprisonment on the pending charges and observes that Leija has committed various violations of probation conditions. Delgado then states: “So if I wanted him to go to the penitentiary he’s obviously fucked.”

Perez asks: “So you think we can do something … for [Leija]?” Delgado eventually replies: “so yes I can help … I can help. All he’s got to do is plead true.” Perez then gives Delgado beer and the $260 that the FBI had supplied him with. Delgado states: “I’ll take care of you and I’ll give him a chance.” On December 5, 2017, Delgado released Leija on a $5,000 PR bond.

On January 17, 2018, again at the behest of the FBI, Perez arranged another meeting with Delgado to discuss a client, Jose Garza, who had a motion to revoke probation pending before Delgado.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at a restaurant, and when Perez arrived Delgado texted him to come inside the restaurant. Perez responded that he had “something for you don’t want to give it in the restaurant can you come outside won’t take long.” Delgado walked outside and got into Perez’s car.