LOWNDES COUNTY, GA (WTXL) - A former Lowndes County Sheriff's Deputy was sentenced to 21 month in prison for a civil rights conspiracy, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jason Stacks was one of three people convicted for playing a role in a conspiracy to steal money from Hispanic motorists, says the DOJ.
Two civilians were also sentenced, Gloria Gallego and Miguel Angel Reyes. Gallego was sentenced to 24 months in prison and Reyes to 30.
The Department say that Stacks, Gallego, and Reyes pleaded guilty to the civil rights conspiracy charge. He admitted that he pulled Hispanic drivers over so Gallego and Reyes could make them pay money to avoid arrest and deportation.
The DOJ says Stacks would pull over the cars and Gallego and Reyes would pretend to be bilingual passers-by trying to help the victims.
"Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve the public and, based on the duty and responsibility that imposes, the public in turn invests them with great authority and respect," said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore. "The abuse of that power and authority, such as happened here, lessens that respect and trust by the public in all law enforcement, thus victimizing not only the victims specifically targeted but all law enforcement officers everywhere as well as the public generally."
