Appearing before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting theft

concerning programs receiving federal funds. According to the factual basis, between September 18, 2011, and

October 11, 2011, Rodriguez, a private contractor who performed work for Maverick County, was issued

several checks totaling more than $17,000 by Maverick County for allegedly providing to the county a forklift,

as well as a motor for both a water truck and a forklift. Rodriguez deposited the checks into his bank account

and then gave thousands of dollars to co-defendant Jaime Flores, per their usual arrangement. Rodriguez never

provided Maverick County a forklift or the motor for a water truck and forklift. By pleading guilty, Rodriguez

admitted that by accepting the checks, depositing the checks, and then giving a portion of the money from the

checks to Flores that he was assisting agents of Maverick County in stealing funds from Maverick County.

Rodriguez’s co-defendants--former Maverick County Purchasing Agent Juan Carlos Moncada, age 32, and

Maverick County Precinct One Foreman Jaime Flores, age 33—remain under indictment for wire fraud and

theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Jury selection and trial for Moncada and Flores is scheduled

for January 15, 2013. If convicted of wire fraud, a defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison; theft

concerning programs receiving federal funds, up to ten years in federal prison. It is important to note that an

indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Moncada and Flores are

presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of

Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Galdo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the

Government.

In 2011, Maverick County received hundreds of thousands of federal dollars as part of Operation Stonegarden, a

federal grant program that provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to enhance their

capabilities to jointly secure U.S. borders and territories.