Sheriff Arrests Staff Nurse for Medication Theft at Detention Center; Booked Into Detention Center

Staff Report

EDINBURG — The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 48-year-old Jaime Mata, a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) employed at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center, following an investigation into the theft of prescribed medication from inmates.

The investigation began after reports of discrepancies in medication management at the detention center. During the probe, surveillance footage revealed Mata removing medication from inmates’ pill containers. Authorities also discovered that Mata had forged medical records to falsify pill counts, attempting to cover up his actions.

Mata was arrested and charged with two counts of Diversion of Controlled Substance by Registrants, Dispensers, and Certain Other Persons, a state jail felony, and one count of Tampering with a Government Record, a Class A misdemeanor.

Justice of the Peace Andre Maldonado set Mata’s bond at $10,000 for each felony charge and $2,000 for the misdemeanor. Mata is currently being held at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Facility.

The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with further information to contact them at (956) 383-8114.

Source: Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.