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A.D. Ibarra
-Del Rio, TX
According to the Western District of Texas, US District Court, Jose Luis Aguilar who was implicated in the case of Rodolfo Heredia, who was initially arrested along with David Gelacio in October of last year, on charges of Conspiracy to lauder money, aiding and abetting money laundering and conspiracy to smuggle bulk cash.
Aguilar was initially set to appear before The Honorable Judge Alia Moses on April 9th for docket call or re-arraignment, but his attorney, Tracy Lynn Spoor has been advised that his re-arraignment will be held on March 27th at 10:30 A.M.
In a re-arraignment, Aguilar will more than likely plead guilty to all or some charges in order to speed up the sentencing phase of his trial.
According to Daryl Fields in a re-arraignment hearing, there is usually a plea involved. Fields is a Public Affairs Officer for the US Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas. What usually follows is what is known as a precedence report with the judge which outlines details in the case which will help the judge make the appropriate sentence and usually takes 30 to 60 days.
Also on for docket call or re-arraignment are Juan Carlos Moncada, Rodollfo Heredia, Cesar Flores, Eliaz Maldonado and Javier Gonzalez are on the judge's calendar for April 9th at the Federal Courthouse in Del Rio.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber informed The News Gram that he is working on accepting applications for the MCSD Explorers, a youth group of potential future Sheriff's Department employees who will be learning the finer points of working with patrol officers, and to represent the department at local community-oriented events such as the annual Feast of Sharing.
"We are presently taking applications for our Explorer group which will be a sort of Boy Scouts type program which we will use to instill good citizenship in our participants to grow up quality people and who may one day even become law enforcement officials," stated Sheriff Schmerber.
According to Schmerber, they have received quite a few applications already and all who apply, if eligible, will become a part of the organization.
Applications are being accepted for all students from Grades 9-12 ages 14-18 at both Eagle Pass High School and at CC Winn High School.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pas
Lieutenant Moses Peña, Interim Chief for the Eagle Pass Police Department, informed The News Gram of the arrival of four new Chevy Tahoe units which will begin to be put to use sometime next week. The units which come after the department had already put five of them into service along with another new K-9 unit. "We are happy to receive these new units and will assign two officers to each," stated the interim chief, "This way, the units will be in service for two shifts and will rest one shift in order to avoid overuse.
Staff
-Eagle Pass
On Monday, at a special meeting of maverick County Commissioner's Court, Rito Valdez III was approved as the new County Treasurer which was left vacant the moment that Roberto Ruiz became County Commissioner of Precinct 4. Valdez was approved in a 4-0-1 vote with Commissioner Daniela Aleman abstaining. On Tuesday, Valdez was sworn in as the new man in charge of the finances of Maverick County in a ceremony attended by friends and family of the new man in charge of this most important position. The Honorable Judge David R. Saucedo kept the atmosphere light when mentioning that this was yet another press conference much like the many that have been happening in the past days.
In Del Rio, Texas, Eduardo De La Garza, owner of Rio Bravo Construction in Eagle Pass, faces up to ten years
in federal prison after pleading guilty this morning to paying a bribe to an agent of an organization receiving
federal funds in connection with an alleged bribery, kickback and bid-rigging scheme in Maverick County
announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez.
Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Victor Garcia, De La Garza admitted that in May 2011, he
submitted a $19,800 bid to Maverick County to construct a concrete pad at the intersection of Winsor Avenue
and Bianca Road in Precinct 4. DeLaGarza further admitted that he has never constructed the pad even though
he received two checks from Maverick County--a $9,900 check to commence work and then $9,900 check for
the completion of the concrete pad. Furthermore, DeLaGarza admitted that he made a cash payment to an
employee working in the Maverick County Auditor’s Office for each check he received. According to court
records, both checks were issued to De La Garza without undergoing the appropriate internal review process by
Maverick County.
DeLaGarza remains on bond pending sentencing which has yet to be scheduled.
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.
In 2010 and 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.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
The last special meeting of Maverick County Commissioner's Court was an interesting one yet not one without drama. At the onset of the meeting, during the visitor's comments, Guadalupe Cardona came forward and, after congratulating Roberto Ruiz on his new appointment as commissioner, and seemingly complimentary on the future of this particular group of commissioners as he was sure that they will work together from here forward, it did not seem as though he would go off on a negative tangent as he read the following prepared statement: "I've come to congratulate Mr. Ruiz for his appointment, there is now no doubt in my mind that you will all work in harmony, for now we have a right-wing Democratic Court. You all think alike now." At this point, he put away his prepared message and addressed Commissioner's Court in Spanish: "<I've known Mr. Ruiz for many years, and even ran against him thirty years ago.
Staff
-Eagle Pass
Ex-Chief of Police Juan Antonio Castañeda, informed The News Gram that he has hired legal counsel to defend him in his case against the City of Eagle Pass. His attorney hails from San Antonio.
Castañeda was released from his position by City Manager Gloria Barrientos.
As he stated on the day after he was released, he has proceeded to prepare to face his ex-employers in a court of law as he disputes the justification behind his release.
He failed to give any more details as to how he will proceed after this.
Castañeda was a few months shy of completing his 20th year as Police Chief when he was given a letter of termination.
Moses Peña, Aldo Escamilla and Alejandro Guedea are presently in charge of the department.
The city has begun the process of seeking a replacement for Castañeda whose release comes at the same time the City of Eagle Pass is seeking a new City Manager and the Mayor finds himself in a race for another term in office.
A.D. Ibarra
-Del Rio, TX
Many of those indicted by US Federal Court Western District of Texas will face The Honorable Alia Moses on April 9th at 9:00 A.M. to either set a court date or plead guilty of charges before them.
Former County Commissioner of Precinct 2 Rodolfo Bainet Heredia, Jose Luis Aguilar and Juan Carlos Moncada were scheduled for hearings on Tuesday, March 12th all of which have been rescheduled and former County Commissioner Eliaz Maldonado and still County Commissioner of Precinct 4, Cesar Flores will both be before Judge Moses on that day as well.
The Western District of Texas will be handling county business in one fell swoop on this day less than a month from today in what has been an unprecedented wave of indictments aimed at Eagle Pass and Maverick County by the FBI which extends as far as last week when Jose Telles, Jr., a local contractor was the last to be formally charged by federal authorities on Friday.
Heredia, who is represented by Scott McCrum, will appear on April 9th for several counts including unlawfully accepting property of another and bribery involving federal programs after being initially charged with conspiracy to smuggle bulk cash into the United States. He, along with Jose Luis Aguilar and David Gelacio have been in federal custody since October of last year.
Maldonado, who faces charges for wire fraud and receipt of a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal funds, was able to post bond and has most recently turned in his letter of resignation prompting the sudden replacement of his interim Javier Libson who was appointed by District Judge Dick Alcala, by Gerardo Morales, now acting County Commissioner of Precinct 1 after Alcala dissolved his appointment at a hearing this week when attorneys for County Judge David Saucedo were informed that a vacancy did not exist at the time Morales was initially sworn in March 4th.
Flores, whose resignation is effective March 15th, will be before Judge Moses for unlawfully accepting property of another and receipt of a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal funds.
Also on the docket on April 9th will be Juan Carlos Moncada and Javier Gonzalez. Moncada who is represented by Gregory Torres and James Nowlin is a former employee of the County Auditor's office. Gonzalez, a local contractor, faces charges of paying a bribe to an agent of an organization receiving federal funds.
Jose Luis Aguilar will know his fate earlier as his re-arraignment will be on March 27th. Aguilar is represented by Tracy Lynn Spoor, a court appointed counsel.
Staff
-Eagle Pass
This Monday morning Maverick County Commissioner for Precinct 4, Cesar Flores made his official resignation effective this March 15.
Flores had anticipated earlier this year that he would step down to focus on his pending case in federal court in Del Rio, Texas where he is accused of receiving bribes from contractors.
The County Treasurer, Roberto Ruiz, said he received the letter of resignation, and mentioned that this topic need not be discussed in Commissioners Court, simply because Flores is voluntarily leaving office.
Cesar Flores spent almost 15 years in the post of Commissioner for Precinct 4 Maverick County.
Now it will be up to County Judge David Saucedo to appoint a person to replace him.
Flores is also an employee of the Eagle Pass School District but is currently suspended.
The name of the new commissioner could be announced as soon as this week or next.
Alcala: 'Is that any way to be conducting business?'
District Judge dissolves order to appoint interim commissioner
Saucedo's appointee, Morales to be re-sworn in
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
With a packed District 293rd courtroom on hand to listen to deliberations as to whether or not a vacancy did exist the day Gerardo Morales was sworn in as County Commissioner of Precinct 1, many key players were present in the latest drama whcich has become the focus of the Federal government in the past five months such as County Commissioners Cesar Flores, Javier Libson and Daniela Aleman along with County Judge David Saucedo with Morales as well as local attorney Claudio Heredia who was here to monitor this hearing as counsel for his brother Rodolfo.
What was in question from the onset was whether a vacancy existed on the day Morales was sworn in and despite efforts by counsel Luis Roberto Vela and Heriberto Morales, The Honorable Visiting District Judge Dick Alcala was adamant that no such vacancy existed.
"Both commissioners have been temporarily suspended and their litigations are ongoing as we speak," began County Attorney Ricardo Ramos, "We ask the court for clarification, was there a vacancy or not?"
"A non-suit has not been filed in this case, although that is a valid option."
Vela countered with a case from 1932 in which a Travis County Sheriff was suspended, resigned and the county judge appointed a new sheriff.
"In this case it's the same scenario," said Vera, "But the law gives power of commissioner to the county judge until results of his trial, the future order of this court or operation of law," as he mentioned that as soon as the 'Menace of the public' was removed the power to appoint went to the county judge.
"In this case, your appointment died by law," Vera closed.
"Don't you think that in this case it's putting the cart before the horse?" stated the visiting judge, "It's not the way to conduct business."
Morales' attorneys stated, "We're also of the opinion this court did have jurisdiction. The court lost that matter once the letter of resignation was submitted, so the temporary appointment should be dissolved," to which Alcala rebutted, "But a vacancy didn't exist, he (Libson) was in office at the time.
Alcala pointed out that in the case they cited, "District Court had not made an appointment, it was vacant in that case, but not in this one."
As much as it seemed that Alcala was going to remain steadfast in his belief that in fact there was no vacancy on March 4, 2013, the visiting judge found that the resignation did not create a vacancy, however he dissolved his motion of appointment, made Maldonado's resignation official as of that day, March 8th and ordered that whoever is to be appointed must be sworn in again.
Judge Dick Alcala thanked Libson for giving his time to the betterment of Maverick County.