HOUSTON, Tex. (KGNS) – The Webb County sheriff and his assistant chief appeared in federal court Thursday, January 22, on charges they defrauded the sheriff’s office during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced.
Martin Cuellar Jr., 67, and Alejandro Gutierrez, 47, both of Laredo, turned themselves in to authorities and made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan in Houston.
A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment on November 19, 2025, alleging that between 2020 and 2022, Cuellar and Gutierrez conspired with others to misappropriate Webb County Sheriff’s Office funds.
According to the indictment, Cuellar, Gutierrez and former assistant chief Ricardo Rodriguez, 65, of Laredo, used the sheriff’s office staff and resources to run a for-profit disinfecting business during the pandemic.
They opened Disinfect Pro Master in April 2020 and entered into service agreements with local businesses and restaurants despite having no employees or supplies of their own, prosecutors said.
The indictment alleges that sheriff’s office employees handled the company’s day-to-day operations from the office, where they picked up schedules and equipment to conduct disinfecting services both on and off the clock with the county.
Disinfect Pro Master secured a $500,000 contract to clean United ISD schools in Laredo and completed the work using the sheriff’s office staff and resources, according to the charges.
For more than two years, the business operated almost entirely with county employees and supplies, incurring minimal overhead, prosecutors said.
Cuellar, Gutierrez and Rodriguez each received approximately $175,000, one-third of the profits, according to the charges. Cuellar used part of his proceeds to purchase property in Laredo, prosecutors said.
If convicted, Cuellar and Gutierrez each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Cuellar is additionally charged with money laundering, which carries an additional 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of property involved in the real estate transaction.
Rodriguez previously pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing on March 16. He is currently on bond pending that hearing.
FBI San Antonio and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation as part of the Laredo Border Corruption Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Winter and Robert Johnson are prosecuting the case.
According to a text message sent to KGNS, Cuellar says he is innocent and will fight the claims.
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