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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.
In Del Rio this morning, Maverick County Precinct One Commissioner Eliaz Maldonado, age 52 of Eagle Pass, Texas, surrendered to federal authorities after a federal grand jury indicted him this week in connection with an alleged bribery, kickback and bid-rigging scheme announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez.
The federal grand jury indictment, returned yesterday, charges Maldonado with four counts of wire fraud and two counts of receiving bribes. The indictment alleges that in 2010 and 2011, Maldonado, through his employees, manipulated the bidding process to guarantee that contractors he chose would be awarded Maverick County construction contracts. Those contractors deposited the 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 there to be sufficient funds to perform the construction work, make a profit, and pay the bribe to Maldonado.
Upon conviction, Maldonado faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud charge and up to ten years in federal prison for each bribery charge. Maldonado appeared before Magistrate Judge Victor Roberto Garcia this morning in Del Rio for his Initial Appearance and was granted a $50,000 bond.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Individuals who have first-hand information about corruption, fraud, or bribery related to Maverick County are urged to contact the FBI at (210) 225-6741.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Galdo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
Longtime businessman, successful car dealer and entrepreneur Ernesto Ancira was in Eagle Pass on Wednesday to break ground on their fourteenth dealership in the state of Texas, a $9 million investment in the future of Eagle Pass, Maverick County and South Texas which will offer South Texans a closer place to shop for a greater variety of personal vehicles right in their own back yard.
The new location which will be located at the corner of Highway 57 and Adams Circle at the northernmost end of Eagle Pass should be complete in September of next year.
"The forecast for business in this area is great, we're very excited of where we're moving forward in terms of business in Texas," stated State Representative Poncho Nevarez, "We want to make businesses in Texas as welcome as possible within the state because everybody wants to be in Texas and to be a Texan, and it's really the best time to do so."
"For us, the excitement started four years ago and it's really never stopped," said Werner Johnson, Vice-President and General Manager of Ancira Ford Mercury of Eagle Pass, "It took the belief of a lot of people, most importantly Ernesto for not only backing us, but believing in us."
"Eagle Pass teams up together, they make things happen and the growth Eagle Pass is experiencing right now is indicative of that and growth means opportunity," said Ancira, "First and foremost for our employees because I've always said they're the ones who feed me, so I've got to take care of them and make them comfortable, so I've got to find ways that they can continue to grow and we can continue to grow as an organization."
The brand new state of the art facility that will feature Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram Truck automotive brands.
“We are very excited that this day has finally arrived,” says Johnson, “This is a great opportunity to show the citizens of Eagle Pass and surrounding areas that Ancira Eagle Pass will not only have the biggest inventory and selection in the area, but will also give our customers un-matched automotive experience.”
Serving South Texas for over forty years, Ancira Enterprises proudly employs more than 700 people and continues to grow through remodeling, expansion, and new store openings and due to these developments, Ford Motor Company has begun to allocate additional inventory to the current Ancira Eagle Pass Ford dealership.