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Nevarez Law Firm takes over as Legal counsel of Maverick County
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
The office attorney Alfonso Nevarez was selected to be the Legal Advisor to the Maverick County previously occupied before by County Attorney Ricardo Ramos. The decision was made at the special meeting of Commissioner's Court on Tuesday afternoon. Alfonso Nevarez, currently State Representative, was selected from a total of 3 applicants, the other two offices being Attorney Jad Harper and The Law Firm of Langley and Banack.
Ancira Eagle Pass Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Hold the grandest of Grand Openings Wednesday
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
Ernesto Ancira made a significant investment in the economic future of our community as his newest venture is and will continue making an impact on a market he has already been benefitting from the past decade.
The grand opening of the new Ancira Eagle Pass Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram was held on Wednesday at their new location located as you come into Eagle Pass at 4039 Adams Circle in the new Industrial District of our fair city.
Humberto "Beto" Garza graciously emceed the event for the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce and appropriately so as he has been at the forefront of Eagle Pass business and finance over the years and a prouder moment for our community than this as local dignitaries, state legislators, financiers, employees, business partners, family and friends were on hand to witness history.
Energy bill advancing through Mexican Congress
E. EDUARDO CASTILLO, Associated Press
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's lower house of Congress gave general approval to historic legislation that would open the state-run oil industry to private investment, but final passage was delayed by a debate on its provisions that continued throughout the night and past dawn on Thursday.
Just hours after the measure passed the Senate Wednesday on a 95-28 vote, members of the House of Deputies took up the bill after overriding attempts by leftist opponents to block discussions.
They voted 354-134 to give general approval to the proposal just before midnight, but continued in a marathon session of debate on hundreds of challenges to individual sections of the bill before a final vote.
The lawmakers in favor say it's needed to revamp Mexico's moribund, state-run oil industry. Production is on the decline and the state-run Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, hasn't had the finances or expertise needed to tap the country's vast deep-water and shale reserves.
Opponents say it would be a return to the days of foreign oil companies profiteering from Mexico's patrimony and a betrayal of the people of Mexico.
Two of the country's three main parties are backing the bill, which would allow the government to grant contracts and licenses for exploration and drilling to multinational firms, something currently prohibited by Mexico's constitution.
If the bill passes the lower house, it would then need to be approved by the legislatures of 17 of Mexico's 31 states.
Dozens of legislators signed up to speak when debate began Wednesday night on the floor of a makeshift chamber after a group of leftist lawmakers seized control of the House of Deputies, using chairs and tables to block access to the chamber in a failed attempt to block discussion of the measure.
"The homeland is not for sale! The homeland is to be defended!" they shouted while holding protest signs and Mexican flags.
Legislators convened in a room nearby, however, and voted for the body to immediately begin debating the bill and bypass studying it in committees.
The bill is the crowning piece of President Enrique Pena Nieto's first year of reforms, which have also targeted education, the tax system and telecommunications. But the energy overhaul is considered most crucial to the overall economy and the remaining five years of Pena Nieto's presidency.
Under the legislation, contracts could be made directly with the government rather than with Pemex, ending its monopoly on Mexican oil.
The bill would allow contracts for profit- and production-sharing as well as licenses under which companies would pay royalties and taxes to the Mexican government for the right to explore and drill.
Private companies would have to specify in contracts that all oil and gas found belongs to Mexico. The constitution would continue to prohibit oil concessions, considered the most liberal kind of access for private oil companies.
Opponents of the reform argue that Mexico's people should decide on such a momentous change.
"We want a referendum on this," said Congressman Alejandro Sanchez, a member of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD.
Analysts contend Mexico needs to let in private investment to save its oil sector. While oil output has been rising in the U.S. and Canada, Mexico's production has fallen 25 percent since 2004 despite increased investment.
Operations by private companies that would be allowed by the bill have been prohibited since 1938, when President Lazaro Cardenas nationalized the oil industry, a step written into the constitution to protect the country from possible profiteering by foreign companies.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A.D. Ibarra
Los Lonely Boys are Ready to Rock Eagle Pass
In a major way, behind their latest, 'Revelation'
A.D. Ibarra
-San Angelo, TX
The Eagle Pass News Gram caught up to Jo Jo Garza, bass player for Los Lonely Boys, the Grammy Award winning band out of San Angelo who hit the music scene in a very big way behind the support of the great Willie Nelson with their unique brand of Texican rock and roll.
When asked about that year and their appearance at the grandest event in music, he had the following to say:
We never felt so honored and we never felt so humbled when they told us, a lot of the nation came together, especially the Raza, Man, so we couldn't help but shed a tear. People told us 'We feel like we were all on that stage!' and one of the things we always tell people, Bro' is that we all stand together, because we stand here for La Raza. La Raza Humana and we felt really honored.
A.D. Ibarra -Eagle Pass
Robert Mireles of the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce eloquently emceed the Grand Opening of our latest new business which should become a key player in Eagle Pass' transition into the Eagle Ford Shale Project which gets nearer and nearer to our fair city each and every day. The Eagle Pass, Texas, Tractor Supply Company store held its grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 7, with specially priced merchandise Dec. 6-8. The store officially opened for business Nov. 23. The Eagle Pass location is Tractor Supply’s 139th store in Texas and employs 17 team members. The facility has 19,097 square feet, including sales floor and support service space. Tractor Supply is the largest retail farm and ranch supply store chain in the United States and has been operating in Texas since 1950. “Eagle Pass is a great location for Tractor Supply Company because it’s a growing town, and we’re centrally located,” said Store Manager Norma Herrera. “Our knowledgeable, friendly team is from the area, and we invite everyone to come visit us and experience Tractor Supply’s legendary customer service. There is something here for everyone.”
A.D. Ibarra
-Dimmit County
In one of the first cases of wrongful death in relation to companies from The Eagle Ford Shale Project, a Dimmit County jury returned a verdict in favor of Clarissa Aguilar, the sole surviving parent of Carlos Aguilar of Laredo who was killed tragically when a drive shaft broke off an Eagle Ford truck and crashed through the window killing Aguilar. The size of the verdict and the local concern regarding increased truck traffic in the region has commanded not only regional, but statewide and national media interest.
Homicide on Bryan St. reported by EPPD on Bryan St.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
A grisly, tragic incident was reported at 1610 Bryan Street when a call came in to the Eagle Pass Police Department at 1:31 A.M. of an unresponsive female at the residence.
When officers arrived, they found the body of Jessica Colecio, 37, who had been stabbed to death.
The primary suspect in this homicide case is Jaime Jimenez who, according to a press release by the EPPD, is a 38 year-old male who was found lying next to the victim when police reported to the residence.
After further examination of the two individuals it was found that the female was unresponsive and covered in blood.
The female was pronounced dead at the scene by a Justice of the Peace.
Jimenez was taken into custody and was transported back to the Eagle Pass Police Department for further investigation.
The Eagle Pass Police Department Criminal Investigations Division along with the Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers are currently continuing the investigation.
Department of Justice
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: PAO DARYL FIELDS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013 (210) 384-7440
EAGLE PASS BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ROLE IN MAVERICK COUNTY BRIBERY,
KICKBACK AND BID-RIGGING SCHEME
In Del Rio, 52-year-old Salvador Castillon, owner of South Texas Concrete based in Eagle Pass, pleaded guilty
to paying bribes to a Maverick County commissioner in order to secure county construction contracts
announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez.
Appearing before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses, Castillon pleaded guilty to one count of paying a bribe to an
agent of an organization receiving federal funds. According to court records, Castillon was awarded Maverick
County construction contracts totaling $416,800 in 2010 and $148,000 in 2011. Castillon admitted that during
that time period, he paid the Maverick County Precinct 2 commissioner approximately $57,000 in return for
being awarded the construction contracts.
Castillon, who remains on bond pending sentencing, faces up to ten years in federal prison and a maximum
$250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for 9:00am on May 12, 2014, before Judge Moses in Del Rio.
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.
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Department of Justice
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: PAO DARYL FIELDS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013 (210) 384-7440
EAGLE PASS BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK FRAUD
In Del Rio today, 41-year-old Jose Flores, III, owner of Eagle Pass-based N5 Group, LLC, (N5) pleaded guilty
to a bank fraud scheme announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge
Armando Fernandez.
According to court records, the defendant, through N5, attempted to serve as raw materials transportation
providers to businesses in Eagle Pass and to companies operating in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. In
April 2011, N5 established a Large Fleet Accounts Receivable Financing agreement with TAB Bank, Inc in
Utah. The primary purpose of N5's account with TAB was to establish a factoring relationship between the two
entities. In a factoring arrangement, a bank agrees, for a fee, to serve as the recipient of payments that are owed
to a company. Once this agreement is made, the company will assign its accounts receivable to the bank. The
bank will then advance a large percentage of the yet-unpaid accounts receivable to the business expecting
payment. Thereafter, the bank will begin to collect payments from the customer indebted to the business.
Ideally, the company expecting payment will benefit because it will obtain cash from the bank immediately and
thus need not wait for its accounts to come due before receiving payment. The bank benefits as well because it
charges a commission for its service as receiver of the outstanding accounts.
Appearing before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses, Flores pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. By
pleading guilty, Flores admitted that in July 2011, he submitted to TAB Bank a forged invoice in the amount of
$51,000 for work N5 was to perform for a customer. Pursuant to the factoring agreement, the defendant
fraudulently received $35,000 from TAB Bank. When TAB subsequently began its efforts to collect payment
from the customer, it found that N5 had never done any work for that customer. In fact, that customer owed N5
no money at all.
Flores faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a maximum $1,000,000 fine as well as $35,000 restitution to
TAB Bank. He remains on bond pending sentencing scheduled for May 12, 2014, before Judge Moses in Del
Rio.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Department of Public
Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy A. Duree is prosecuting this case on behalf of the
Government.
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