On November 4, 2014, Edwin Allan Tamayo, 43, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to resign from the Sheriff’s Department by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert Vanderet. In September 2004, Tamayo pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The former deputy sheriff was assigned to the Malibu/Lost Hills Station, until his resignation on August 14, 2014.
In his capacity as the deputy sheriff, Tamayo managed to fix traffic tickets in exchange for bribes, by removing the citations before they were filed in court. He also stole court notices from a colleague’s office mailbox, without the other deputy’s knowledge. In one instance, Tamayo was paid at least $1,000 by a driver to get rid of three traffic tickets in 2012.
Tamayo also fixed a ticket for a person who donated $500 in 2011 to sponsor a Sheriff’s Department group at a golf tournament held by the Malibu Chamber of Commerce. The ticket fixer participated in the said golf tournament.
Tamayo was convicted of fixing a total of eight tickets, including one that was referred to him by a lieutenant, whose acquaintance had been issued a citation. The original charges included accepting bribes, preparing false documentary evidence and conspiring to obstruct justice, carrying up to nine years and eight months in prison.
Tamayo pleaded “no contest” to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, receiving a sentence of probation and 400 hours of community service, but no prison time. If he successfully completes the terms of the deal, the charge could be reduced to a misdemeanor and expunged from Tamayo’s record.
Ironically, Tamayo previously participated in the FBI’s corruption probe of other sheriff’s officials. Tamayo wore a wire for the FBI and secretly recorded a Sheriff’s Department supervisor as part of a federal investigation into allegations of improper campaign fundraising.
“I’m glad that this worked out favorably to all parties involved,” Tamayo’s attorney, Jacob Glucksman, said outside the court. The case worked out favorably for everyone, except for the taxpayers footing the bill. Tamayo was on paid leave since February 2013, when the sheriff’s department launched an internal investigation. His paid vacation, funded by American taxpayers, lasted until June 2014, when Tamayo was finally arrested. He was released after posting $25,000 bail and remained free pending today’s sentencing. Tamayo’s attorney said that his client moved out of the Los Angeles County and is now in process of looking for another job.