A.D. Ibarra

-Austin, TX

County Commissioner of Precinct 2 Daniela Flores Aleman has returned to Eagle Pass from her recent trip to Austin to attend the Texas Association of Counties Conference which focused on county management.

"The TAC is our biggest resource for county government and 70 counties were represented," stated Aleman who informed The News Gram that she was very satisfied with the conference in general which provided much needed insight on problems being faced by Maverick County and counties across Texas, "I attended a course on grants and resources available to sheriff departments.  I plan to sit down with Sheriff Schmerber to share this information with he and Ignacio Saucedo."

Also included as part of the training were the Best Practices Awards which highlighted the efforts of other counties around the state from 2009 to the present.

"There were many exemplary efforts honored and I was able to dialogue and share ideas with these recipients, ideas which we can definitely bring back to Eagle Pass to implement in the future."

But her favorite session by far was that of a county which has built its own tire shredder for less than $3,000.00 which has aided them in eliminating their junk tire problem.

"It was a coincidence and pure luck that this session was available and this is a more feasible rout we can take to alleviate OUR tire problem," she concluded, "I can't wait to share this information with my colleagues on Commissioner's Court."

Department of Justice

United States Attorney Robert Pitman

Western District of Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: DARYL FIELDS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 (210) 384-7440

SAN ANTONIO-BASED TEXAS MEXICAN MAFIA MEMBERS SENTENCED

United States Attorney Robert Pitman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez and Texas

Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw announced that two San Antonio-based members and

associates of the Texas Mexican Mafia (TMM), including an individual whom authorities believe held the

organizational rank of “Free World General,” have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms for their roles

in a drug distribution conspiracy.

Appearing before United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez this afternoon, 45-year-old former TMM

General Robert Carreno (aka “Lil Bit”) was sentenced to 300 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to

distribute approximately 48 kilograms of heroin. Guadalupe Ramos (aka “Lupio”), age 48, was sentenced to

210 months in prison.

From December 1, 2009, to July 20, 2011, the defendants were responsible for distributing at least 48

kilograms of heroin, which the TMM sold for $750,000.00. Also, Carreno oversaw the transportation of the

heroin from Laredo to San Antonio, for further distribution by TMM members.

Other sentences handed down to co-defendants include: Gabriel Quiroz (aka “Biker”), age 46, sentenced to 168

months; Julio Villanueva (aka “Shorty Hawk”), age 56, sentenced to 262 months; Teresa Alonzo (aka “Tia”),

age 63, sentenced to 58 months ; Manuel Gonzales (aka “Speedy”), age 36, sentenced to 188 months; Joseph

Sanchez (aka “Cowboy”), age 41, sentenced to 121 months; and Santos Trevino (aka “Dedos,” and “Beatles”),

age 20, was sentenced to 120 months.

Co-defendant Alexander Garza (aka “Animal”), age 35, is pending sentencing in May; and 39-year-old Tony

Berlanga (aka “Tony”) is pending trial in May.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the

Texas Department of Public Safety--Criminal Investigations Division, Homeland Security Investigations

(HSI), San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, New Braunfels Police

Department and the 81st Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

     At the regular meeting of Maverick County Commissioner's Court, several key issues were on the agenda including the item on the approval of funds for the proposed opening of Cell 2 at the Maverick County Sanitary Landfill.

     Financial advisor Robert Rodriguez was on hand to inform Commissioner's Court of the status of a loan which will be requested to pay for the project.

     Rodriguez advised that they needed to take action on this day to make said request being that it must be done within the scope of a regular meeting.

     The funds will go toward the preparation of the cell to take the loads of waste materials which have been coming in steadily to the facility in turn generating much needed funds for the county which finds itself in need of such beneficial projects such as this which brings in $1.6 million a year.

     "We usually give a number of dollars not to exceed in these types of situations," stated Rodriguez, "It's a two step process.  Once the County Attorney receives the recommendation from the County Auditor, the documents go to the Attorney General.  The lender is the most important component at this point.  They will then ask for an independent audit and current audit reports."

     Fortunately for Maverick County, Dimmit County sends us daily waste as their facility is maxed out to capacity by 9:00 A.M. each morning.  Traffic may be coming in from Laredo in terms of sludge waste and the Eagle Ford Shale boom and the traffic it has provided has made this a profitable endeavor indeed which could essentially pay for itself once completed.

     The item did meet some resistance simply because of the fact that the contact person for information dealing with the project is in fact Commissioner Daniela Aleman who has been working with County Judge Saucedo as well as Rolano Jasso, Chairman of the Landfill Board.

     Commissioner Robert Ruiz advised The news Gram that this is the first step to look at the intent for someone to sponsor the project, but they need a non-profit organization such as The County of Maverick to request the bonds, or the financing for them.

     "Even though the county is looking for these funds for them, Maverick County will not be burdened by this financially," stated the newly appointed commissioner of Precinct 4.

     Commissioner Daniela Aleman had the following to say to The News Gram from her hotel in Austin as she prepares to attend the meting with State Representative Alfonso Nevarez about the new highway to Laredo as well as the TAC Conference for County Management which runs through Friday, "We already have a company we're in negotiations with, but we need to secure the tax note," added the commissioner, "The whole issue is in essence of time," she concluded as the first cell nears capacity years before it was scheduled to do so.

     "What we've seen is that Maverick County is moving in the right direction, unfortunately right now, at the national level they look at our rating, but we are a non-rated entity at this point.  The SWA (Solid Waste Authority) has a lot more revenue than the $659,000.00 it was projected to have each year through 2030 because they contributed $1 million over that amount last year and Cell 1 is filling up fast."