A.D. Ibarra

-Del Rio, Texas

     Edgar Aguilar, who The Honorable US Federal Judge Alia Moses of the Western District of Texas called the person who put together the "Grossly criminal" act of orchestrating a months-long plot to steal from the City of Eagle Pass in the form of utilizing a Gas Man fuel card to steal an amount of $68,373.87 in gasoline and along with four other individuals indicted in this case, benefited from this financially, was sentenced to 42 months in prison, three years of probation and will be forced to pay restitution to the tune of $500.00 per month until the amount is paid in full.

     Aguilar's defense attorney Edgar Juarez and US Prosecutor Timothy Adam Duree were in discussion prior to sentencing as the US Government put in for what is termed a sentencing advisory to which Judge Moses was taken aback stating, "I'm not really happy with this case, I was planning on sentencing above the guidelines, now you come to me with guidelines?  What this man did was inexcusable," before the prosecutor asked to approach the bench.

     What transpired after this was what seemed to be discussion as to the details found within the context of the sentencing advisory amidst the eery sound of a device which will not allow anyone outside the bench to listen in on the conversation.

     What one could notice was that it seemed as though Duree was attempting to convince the judge to see his points of view on some issue while Aguilar was waiting somewhat impatiently adjusting his government issued orange suit in cuffs and chains in front of the court reporter with arms crossed.

     After exactly eleven minutes, Juarez came up to Aguilar to give him the news that the judge had probably not taken the advisory into consideration and Aguilar was asking him questions.

Then Judge Moses gave him the opportunity to speak to which Aguilar apologized to the court, to the judge and to the United States to which she replied, "How about to the taxpayers of Eagle Pass?"

     She went on to say that he had been placed in a position of trust and he took it upon himself to violate this trust and to recruit others to assist him in doing so for a very long period of time.

Mayor Ramsey English-Cantu was given the opportunity to come up and speak on behalf of the victims and said, "I was angry and disappointed that you could not have the basic standard of humanity.  There is an obligation expected of all city employees and this trust has been violated."

     Cantu went on to say that Aguilar knowingly and repeatedly stole from the citizens of Eagle Pass.

     "Our image has been tarnished and we ask that our citizens be paid in full and that Mr. Aguilar is sentenced to the fullest extent of the law."

     What Judge Moses stated in her remarks prior to sentencing was that they were seeking a sentence of 12-18 months which she said was not going to happen because this was not a mistake, it was what she deemed a "Criminal decision."  She also stated that in order to promote respect for the law and to protect the public, she will sentence him to 42 months in prison, three years probation and ordered him and his accomplices to pay back $68,373.87, $48,373.87 to the City of Eagle Pass and $20,000.00 to the Texas Municipal League.