A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

When County Commissioner Rudy Heredia was picked up in October 18th for alleged money laundering charges and possibly collaborating with Mexican drug cartels, Maverick County made state and national news due to the severity of the charges and the fact that these charges were stemming from an elected official.

As the sixth county employee falls this week in County Commissioner Eliaz Maldonado, the question is raised, where and when will this end?

With the county in dire straits and in the midst of a deficit which has resulted in the dismissal of many former county employees, Maverick County seems to be the focal point of the US Department of Justice and the end seems to be no where in sight.

Maldonado was indicted on Thursday on alleged charges of manipulating the bidding process to guarantee that contractors he chose would be awarded Maverick County construction contracts.  Those contractors deposited checks issued to them by Maverick County and then made cash payments to Maldonado.  

According to the indictment, the private contractors submitted inflated bids to Maverick County in order for their to be sufficient funds to perform the construction work, make a profit and pay a bribe to Maldonado.

Should these charges lead to a conviction, who would be left to handle county business for which these county officials have been elected and sworn in to fulfill?

Questions have been raised and indictments have been raining on our county while the deficit and its complications continue to mount, becoming a burden to the affairs of an entity which has been working diligently toward solvency.

Maldonado appeared before Magistrate Judge Victor Roberto Garcia on Thursday morning in Del Rio for his initial appearance and was granted a $50,000 bond as opposed to Heredia who was not given the opportunity by US Magistrate Judge Collis White.