"He acknowledges the harm and the damages can't be understated in terms of money and resources," said Heredia’s lawyer Scott W. McCrum, "We acknowledge his role. He was one of the top leaders of this community. He did it on basis of greed and we are not minimizing that. He accepts that."
Contractor Marcelo Alvarez was also sentenced on Friday to 112 months in federal prison. He may also face deportation due to his immigration status.
Alvarez was given a restitution of $ 1,022,303.94 which he will pay jointly with Alejandra Garcia, Eliaz Maldonado, Javier Gonzalez, Eduardo De La Garza, Eduardo Rene Rodriguez, Jose Telles Jr., Rodolfo Heredia, Salvador Castillon and Cesar Flores.
Judge Moses questions the list of properties that Alvarez had in his possession counting 19 parcels of land that were paid for with no mortgage.
"Did you get these properties with illegal funds?"
"No ma'm I've worked 30 years for what I own," stated Alvarez.
"I don't know what to say I am very, very sorry > estoy trastornado por todo lo que me a pasado.<"
The first sentencing of the day was for Alejandra Garcia who was an employee in the auditor's office and who prosecutor Bryan Nathan Reeves said was a key player in this process.
Garcia, shook her head as the prosecutor read his findings to which Judge Moses asked Garcia why she was shaking her head.
"What do you not understand?"
" These contracts weren't approved by me," said Garcia.
"You don't understand Mrs. Garcia I don't work for the FBI and the FBI doesn't work for me, this is federal court Ma'am, I know what's in the report."
"I just want to add that there was a time that I did approach and tell my boss and I was ignored."
Judge Moses sentenced Garcia to 109 months in prison and ordered her to pay a restitution of $382,254.29 jointly with Eduardo Rene Rodriguez, Eliaz Maldonado, Javier Gonzalez, Marcelo Alvarez, Eduardo De La Garza, Rodolfo Heredia, Salvador Castillon and Hector Chavez Jr.
Judge Moses closed by saying the keys in these sentencings are that we need to promote respect for the law. It is so unfortunate that officials felt that it was fine to sell their positions and their offices for such little money.
"Legitimate companies did not get to bid. These were companies hired that didn't do the work. I knew they were bad but it's much worse than I ever imagined."