Originally published on October 20, 2014, at NationofChange.org

A former detective from the Dallas Police Department’s Vice Unit was convicted on three counts of obstruction of official proceedings and one count of obstruction of the due administration of justice for exchanging sex for protection with a French prostitute. Although the vice detective claimed he was simply protecting a confidential informant, the unidentified prostitute testified against him in court confirming she had traded sexual favors for sensitive information about the DPD Vice Unit’s investigations and prostitution raids.

In early 2009, the DPD Vice Unit raided an adult entertainment establishment in Texas. During that raid, vice detective Jose Luis Bedoy met a French prostitute working for that establishment. Bedoy assisted her later when she attempted to reclaim property seized during the raid. According to the prosecution, Bedoy targeted the prostitute because she was in the U.S. illegally and had no family in the area.

From 2009 to 2013, the French prostitute engaged in a sexual relationship with Bedoy and fondled him during massages in exchange for police protection and sensitive information about active vice investigations. During their encounters, Bedoy advised her to work at massage parlors that were not under investigation and taught her how to screen her clients to avoid arrest.

“If he was an undercover, he wouldn’t let me touch his private parts,” she testified in court.

In January 2013, Bedoy showed her a DPD investigative case file targeting an adult entertainment establishment where she worked called Wet. Two days later, the DPD Vice Unit raided Wet, and the French prostitute successfully evaded arrest. After the raid, Bedoy met the prostitute at her home and had sex with her in exchange for the sensitive information that he had given her.

While investigating an adult entertainment company called Studio Serene, the Coppell Police Department enlisted the assistance of the DPD Vice Unit. In March 2013, Bedoy informed the prostitute that Studio Serene was being targeted. Bedoy ordered her to stop working there and not to tell anyone else that Studio Serene was under investigation. Against his orders, she relayed the information to the Studio Serene’s owner who shut down the escort service for several days.

After Studio Serene reopened, the Coppell Police Department and the DPD Vice Unit raided the escort service on April 25, 2013. During interviews with the prostitutes, the Coppell Police Department were informed that a DPD Vice Unit detective known as “Jose” had tipped off the business weeks earlier about the pending raid. Coppell police officers cross-referenced the phone number of “Jose” with contact information from Jose Luis Bedoy’s DPD personnel file and found that the phone number matched.

Based on the information received by the Coppell Police Department, an FBI investigation and a grand jury investigation of Bedoy were initiated. In exchange for immunity from prosecution, the French prostitute became an FBI informant and allowed agents to record her phone conversations with Bedoy.

On June 25, 2013, Bedoy advised her against using Backpage.com for prostitution because the DPD Vice Unit and the FBI were investigating Backpage that week. Conducting a joint operation, the FBI and the DPD Vice Unit were attempting to deter prostitution through classified ads on the internet. Unbeknownst to Bedoy, the FBI was also investigating him.

On July 8, 2013, Bedoy told the French prostitute to leave Dallas and move to a city where police did not have a vice unit. He also advised her to never give her real name if pulled over in a traffic stop by law enforcement. Three days later, the FBI informed Bedoy and other DPD Vice Unit detectives that a federal grand jury investigation had been initiated. The FBI also informed the vice detectives that agents were attempting to locate the French prostitute, referred to as Person A in court documents, based on information that she had received law enforcement-sensitive information from a police officer. Later that day, Bedoy instructed her not to let anyone into her apartment to talk to her, especially FBI agents.

On July 14, 2013, Bedoy told the prostitute to get rid of her cell phone so there would be no connection between them. Nine days later, Bedoy lied to FBI agents when he denied giving sensitive law enforcement information to the French prostitute. On the morning of November 15, 2013, FBI agents arrested Bedoy and charged him with four counts of obstruction.

“This isn’t just a bad cop; this is a criminal,” stated prosecutor P.J. Meitl.

While testifying in court, an FBI agent admitted the French prostitute had lied to him at least five times. Under cross-examination, the agent stated the prostitute had committed a felony each time that she had lied to him but had not been charged. After agreeing to work with the FBI, the prostitute was told by the agents not to commit any more crimes. Instead, she continued working as prostitute to pay her bills and care for her two daughters.

After his arrest, Bedoy resigned from the Dallas Police Department as a senior corporal. According to the Justice Department, Bedoy faces a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison and a $1 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for February 2015.

“He’s a good man,” argued Bedoy’s defense attorney, Dan Hagood. “He’s a stupid man… If I could clobber him, I would.”