‘Pissed off’ sheriff slams podium speaking on BCSO’s connection to DWI scheme
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said he feels “pissed off” after he lost his right-hand man, who was implicated in a massive public corruption scandal involving drunk driving arrests.
“I have never been betrayed like this in my life, and I’m pretty freaking pissed off right now,” Allen said while slamming his podium Thursday.
Johann Jareno was appointed to undersheriff by Allen in January 2023. He is now said to be part of an ongoing federal investigation into a DWI dismissal “enterprise,” in which Albuquerque-area law enforcement officers are accused of working with a local defense attorney to get drunk driving cases dismissed in exchange for cash and other bribes.
Federal investigators said the case involves members of the Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and BCSO, who worked with attorney Thomas Clear III and his paralegal Ricardo “Rick” Mendez.
Sheriff Allen said Jareno informed him on Saturday that the feds interviewed him. On Sunday, Jareno resigned at the request of the sheriff.
“It completely makes me sick. And I literally got sick and threw up in my garbage can,” said Allen.
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Allen explained that he only became suspicious about his undersheriff after the feds interviewed now former BCSO deputy Jeffrey Hammerel in January. Allen said following that interview, Jareno’s body language changed, and the sheriff said the feds wouldn’t talk to him.
“How in the hell would the FBI ever trust me when my right-hand man who speaks for me would give me any other information? That is another red flag,” Allen said.
The sheriff said the FBI is talking to him now, but said a photo of him, Jareno, two other BCSO command staff members, and Mendez at a lunch they had isn’t helping him convince the feds he’s not involved.
“Of course they’re going to suspect me when you find me in a photo with this guy. What a piece of crap. And then he’s put me in a very bad position, and anybody can spin everything and anything they want,” said Allen.
The sheriff addressed potential suspicions that community members might have. “If anybody out there in the public thinks that I had my command staff and we are connected here asking about a DWI scheme, you are an idiot,” Allen said.
Allen also sounded off on the circumstances surrounding the lunch he and his staff had with Mendez.
The Cool Down
“Folks, it’s okay for me to have lunch. The question should be who paid for the lunch, and did I accept any gifts from Mr. Mendez? No. Do people buy me lunch? Yes. Do I take photos with people? Folks, I take 100 photos a week with people. I am a politician and the sheriff of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. If I ever knew that Mr. Jareno and that Mr. Mendez were doing what they were doing along with the DWI scheme, I’m gonna ask you a question back, do you think in all hell I would ever have a lunch with him? No, I would not.”
He said the outing happened in February 2023, not long after he became sheriff. According to Allen, Jareno set up the lunch with Mendez and invited the rest of the command staff. During the lunch, the sheriff said they discussed his campaign.
“Mr. Mendez is on the Republican side. I’m on the Democratic side. I’m speaking to a Republican. I thought I was able to reach across the aisle and get some answers and some questions that the Republican side had, and I’m completely side blasted now, betrayed, disappointed,” said Allen.
In a previous interview with KRQE Investigates, the sheriff called Mendez a friend, said they’ve known each other since 2021, and that he donated $200 to his campaign. That language changed Thursday.
“I wouldn’t even call it a friendship. I would distance myself far away from that piece of crap that I can,” Allen said.
The sheriff is now looking at moving forward without Jareno.
“This isn’t a black eye to the agency. This is a gut punch. This is a kick to my balls and two black eyes, to be honest with you,” the sheriff said. “What do I do to stop that? And how do we move forward? The rank and file that’s out there right now fighting crime. Now they have some gaps in leadership. I always take decisive action. How do we move forward and do it correctly?”
Jareno is the first BCSO employee who has resigned due to alleged involvement in the DWI scheme.
Former deputy Hammerel pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to participating in the scheme. In his confession, he said an unnamed supervisory deputy assured him he wouldn’t get in trouble.
KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret asked the sheriff if Hammerel was referring to Jareno. Allen said he wouldn’t directly answer the question, and added that he doesn’t want to hinder the FBI’s investigation.