Judge sentences former Donna police sergeant to nearly 15 years in prison for protecting drug shipments
A former police sergeant who escorted drug shipments through Donna in exchange for cash was sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison on Friday. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sent former Donna police Sgt. Alejandro “Alex” Martinez, 43, of Hidalgo to federal prison during a hearing on Friday afternoon. “I know I violated my oath,”…
Read MoreSullivan City censures councilman over Facebook post
The Sullivan City Council censured City Councilman Julian Peña on Monday for criticizing other members of the City Council on Facebook. Mayor Alma Salinas said the Facebook post, which contained inaccurate information, had created animosity in the community. “If you’re posting something, well, it needs to be the truth,” Salinas said. During a meeting on…
Read MoreUnder new management, La Joya Housing Authority focuses on recovery agreement
The La Joya Housing Authority is under new management. Executive Director Ruben Villarreal left on Oct. 7, when his employment contract expired. Rather than replace him, the La Joya Housing Authority board approved a management agreement with the Kenedy Housing Authority, which fired all the remaining employees last week. Chairman Jaime Gaitan said the board…
Read MoreAfter more than four years of pre-trial hearings, well-known Hidalgo County lawyer admits to driving while intoxicated
A well-known Hidalgo County lawyer admitted last week to driving while intoxicated. Marco A. De Luna, 46, of Mission signed a formal admission of guilt on Oct. 18, when he agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program. De Luna is well known in western Hidalgo County, where he ran for justice of the peace…
Read MoreJury finds businessman and former Hidalgo County commissioner guilty in Weslaco water treatment plant corruption case
A jury convicted former Hidalgo County Commissioner A.C. Cuellar and businessman Ricardo Quintanilla on bribery, money laundering and wire fraud charges Thursday in the Weslaco water treatment plant corruption case. After an eight-day trial, the jury took just four hours to find Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar Jr., 68, of Progreso Lakes and businessman Ricardo “Rick” Quintanilla,…
Read MoreTestimony wraps up in Weslaco water treatment plant corruption trial, closing arguments scheduled for Thursday
Testimony wrapped up Wednesday in the Weslaco water treatment plant corruption trial. Attorney Carlos A. Garcia, who represents former Hidalgo County Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar Jr., 68, of Progreso Lakes, called the final witness — FBI Special Agent David Roncska — on Wednesday morning. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez, however, prevented Garcia from asking questions…
Read MoreProsecutor turns the tables on witness in Weslaco water treatment plant corruption trial
An attempt to undercut the bribery case against former Hidalgo County Commissioner A.C. Cuellar Jr. backfired spectacularly on Tuesday, when the judge had to interrupt the trial to warn a witness. Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar Jr., 68, of Progreso Lakes arranged for a company to pay his cousin, former Weslaco City Commissioner John F. Cuellar, more…
Read MoreFBI agent takes the witness stand in Weslaco water treatment plant corruption trial
In 2016, the FBI stumbled on something odd. Contractors had written big checks to Rio Grande City Municipal Judge Leonel J. Lopez Jr. One had “Weslaco WTP” written on the memo line. The FBI wanted to find out why. “The bank records of Mr. Lopez were kind of the origination of this case,” said FBI…
Read MoreKey witness struggles to remember details in Weslaco water treatment plant corruption trial
Former Weslaco City Commissioner Gerardo “Jerry” Tafolla spent Friday on the witness stand, attempting to answer questions about how, exactly, a businessman bribed him. Tafolla — who served on the City Commission from 2009 to 2019 — testified for more than five hours Friday in the Weslaco water treatment plant corruption trial. “I’m here to…
Read MoreMastermind behind Weslaco bribery scheme became federal informant, recorded conversations with alleged co-conspirators
After he bribed members of the Weslaco City Commission, former Rio Grande City Municipal Judge Leonel J. Lopez Jr. became a federal informant — and recorded conversations with the people he paid off. Prosecutors played a video Thursday during the Weslaco water treatment plant corruption trial that showed Lopez talking with former Weslaco City Commissioner…
Read More