ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — We’re hearing from New Mexicans on their thoughts about the DWI deception scandal. Last week, a plea agreement blew the year-long case wide open.

Many people tell KOB 4 they’re happy the details are finally out in the open and justice is starting to be served. But they also say it’s a sad reality, corruption is alive and well in New Mexico.

The plea agreement revealed the alleged scheme had been going on for more than 16 years, since 2008. That fact alone shocked several people.

“I’m 22 years old, so to know that this has been going on for most of my life is like it’s hard to wrap my brain around,” UNM student Kaelyn Moon said.

We’ve heard from lawyers and got statements from investigators, but KOB 4 wanted to know what you think about these revelations.

Most people we spoke to were familiar with at least the information we first reported last year when the FBI confirmed they were investigating Albuquerque DWI officers for allegedly taking bribes to not show up to court hearings so DWI cases would get thrown out.

But since then, a lot more has come out. Just this past Friday, a former paralegal, Ricardo “Rick” Mendez, pleaded guilty in the case. He used to work for local defense attorney, Thomas Clear III, who is also implicated.

In Mendez’s plea, he claims APD, BCSO, and NMSP officers would arrest someone suspected of drunk driving. Then they would then reportedly direct them to Clear III and not show up to hearings, so the cases would be dismissed.

In exchange, Mendez claims those officers would get money or other gifts. Here’s what New Mexicans, served by those law enforcement agencies, think about all the allegations.

“It’s saddening and disheartening, like I said, to know that the people who are here to protect and serve us are feeding into that and cultivating more corruption, but I think it’s an opportunity for us to be critical about how we can cultivate community, foster chances for community members to do something,” Moon said.

“I couldn’t figure out how it’s been going on so long. You know, with all the forces, you know, not just APD,” Samuel Pacheco said.

Pacheco lives in Albuquerque and says he doesn’t feel safe driving around the Metro.

“I actually had to go to a driving improvement school a while back, and they said that you could count seven different cars on the view on the road, and at least one of them are under the influence. So that’s pretty crazy,” Pacheco said.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman has already had to dismiss hundreds of pending DWI cases because of the federal investigation. A spokesperson for the DA’s office says they’re reviewing even more cases now.

That is also troubling many in our community.

“Look how many families have lost lives to DWI, you know, involved [in] accidents and stuff like that. And the.. We got these guys letting people off. I think it’s, you know, it’s terrible. I mean, they should be held accountable,” Albuquerque resident Leonard Hunick said.

“DWI in New Mexico is a really sad situation. And, you know, I hear news stories that report there are people who get arrested for their 10th DWI. And to me, I just feel like, how is that possible? That’s crazy,” UNM graduate student Havana Posa Maisano said.

KOB4’s legal analyst, Ahmad Assed, spoke to the fallout we could see as a result of the investigation.

The defense attorney believes there’s a lack of trust now.

“I think that the community definitely was hurt. The image of law enforcement, the image of the prosecutors or defense counsel, was definitely endangered and certainly diminished. And that’s sad, because there are good officers that work every day and put their lives on the line,” Assed continued. “It’s definitely an unprecedented event, but quite frankly, sent a chilling effect to the entire community.”

That’s unfortunately clearly evident with Metro residents.

“It’s hard because we want to stay in our state, and we want to love this place, and stories like that make it tough to keep that opinion,” Havana Posa Maisano said.

“I think it’s an opportunity for our state agencies and our state actors and stakeholders to do something rather than being performative, and to show what New Mexicans do in the face of controversy and conflict,” Moon said.

Many are hoping to see accountability and transparency moving forward.

At this point, only Ricardo Mendez has taken a plea in this case. In fact, the FBI hasn’t charged anyone else in the investigation. But Assed believes more charges or indictments are imminent.

Watch the video above for the full interview.