The prosecution also presented several audio recordings in which Leon Guerrero was heard asking for partial payments, and negotiating to get at least $200 from an illegal taxicab driver.
But the defense maintained the prosecution failed to prove its case against the detective.
Over a dozen audio recordings were admitted as evidence and were played in open court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley, the prosecutor.
During cross examination, Leon Guerrero’s court-appointed attorney David Banes attempted to demolish the credibility of government witnesses FBI special agent Haejun Park, the case agent; and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Michael D. Byerley who provided the technical surveillance on Leon Guerrero.
Banes said the prosecution failed to capture either in a video footage the supposed exchange of bribe money, the detective verbally acknowledging to have received the bribe, or any bank statement to prove that money was taken into Leon Guerrero’s account.
Judge David O. Carter of the Central District of California is presiding over Leon Guerrero’s jury trial which is expected to end on Friday.
There was an audio recording from cooperating witness “Tiger” who gave $500 to Leon Guerrero inside the detective’s office at the Department of Public Safety in Susupe to release his vehicle from police custody.
“If you f…d up, I’ll take it again,” Leon Guerrero told the cooperating witness, referring to the impounded vehicle.
Leon Guerrero told the cooperating witness to call the detective back, “if there’s any problem.”
Between September and October last year, over a dozen audio surveillance were recorded between Leon Guerrero and the cooperating witness who served as middle man for another illegal taxicab driver since Leon Guerrero wanted only to deal with him, testified Park.
The FBI said Leon Guerrero claimed he had to talk to “this guy” — a non-existent person — “to inflate the situation and obtain more money in the end.”
Park said the cooperating witness, who was arrested for operating an illegal taxicab, came to their office to report the extortion of Leon Guerrero from illegal taxicab drivers.
The prosecution said Leon Guerrero received a total of $500 — a first payment of $200 at DPS, and $300 at the back of Payless Supermarket — from the cooperating witness on behalf of the second arrested illegal taxicab, in exchange for the release of the impounded vehicle and the dropping of charges.
The cooperating witness received $3,500 from the FBI for his services, the prosecution said.
