Ex-Agent Exploited Access for Miami Defense Attorneys
A former supervisor with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday for bribing a colleague to leak sensitive information to Miami defense lawyers. The scheme aimed to capitalize on the timing of indictments and other investigative details.
Guilty Verdict and Corruption Crackdown
Manny Recio, 55, was convicted by a federal jury last year of bribery and honest-services wire fraud. This case comes amidst a wider investigation into misconduct within the DEA, with several agents facing corruption charges. Recio’s co-conspirator, John Costanzo Jr., received a four-year sentence last month for orchestrating the $100,000 bribery scheme.
From DEA Service to Private Investigation
Recio retired from the DEA in 2018 but maintained ties with Costanzo, who transitioned to private investigation work for Miami defense attorneys. This connection opened the door for the illegal scheme.
Confidential Information for Personal Gain
Prosecutors relied heavily on text messages and intercepted phone calls between Recio and Costanzo. The evidence revealed Recio repeatedly pressuring Costanzo to access a confidential DEA database for information about ongoing investigations. This intelligence would then be relayed to Recio’s new contacts in Miami.
High-Profile Leaks and Financial Incentives
The leaked details included the timing of major arrests and the planned indictment date for Alex Saab, a Venezuelan businessman suspected of money laundering for President Nicolás Maduro. In exchange for this inside information, prosecutors allege Recio funneled $73,000 to Costanzo through disguised purchases like plane tickets and a condo down payment. Their attempts to conceal their actions involved deleting hundreds of calls and messages from a burner phone.
