Man Charged With Impersonating Public Servant In Leander

LEANDER, TX — A Houston man was charged with posing as a Travis County investigator after claiming he was a hot check collector while at a convenience store in Leander, according to a published report.

Referencing an arrest affidavit released this week, the Austin American-Statesman reported Ricky Cortez, 48, of Houston was charged back in October of impersonating a public servant. According to the report, the Hays County Sheriff's Office and the Austin Police Department also have cases involving the same man posting as a Travis County investigator attempting to collect hot checks.

Police in Leander were alerted in October when a clerk at a Leander convenience store clerk reported a man wearing a badge had walked into his store claiming to be a Travis County investigator. Sensing something was amiss, the clerk surreptitiously photographed the man and his business card, according to the affidavit.

Cortez has since been charged with impersonating a public servant, which is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

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