Wednesday, January 11, 2017

ANOTHER DA OFFICE LEAD PROSECUTOR FLIES THE COOP?

By Juan Montoya
Remember the arrest of Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office employee Claudia Elisa Sanchez back in March 2015 for for tampering with government records at the San Benito tax office?
Sanchez was arrested and booked after her boss Tony Yzaguirre and three others were arrested the January before.

Her case has been making its way to trial since and was being handled by lead prosecutor Gus Garza, the same prosecutor who handled the official corruption case involving former Pct. 2 commissioner Ernie Hernandez. Many say Garza was DA Luis V. Saenz's most trusted prosecutor and his right-hand man.

Well, we understand that Sanchez's case is moving forward, but our sources inside the Cameron County District Attorney's Office say it won't be Garza prosecuting it. They say that a difference of opinion on the validity of the charges against Sanchez has led to an irremediable fracture between Garza and his boss.

As they tell it, Garza went to the DA and told him that the he might not be able to get her conviction because he could not prove that it was her – and not the confidential informant working the case – who had signed the government documents in question. There was simply, Garza is said to have told Saenz, nothing there.

"Well, if you don't think you can do it, I'll get somebody else who can," Saenz is reported to have retorted.

The result, they say, is that Garza is now in his last days at the DA's Office which has seen a gaggle of career prosecutors depart as the work place becomes toxic and things get rockier and rockier dealing with the boss.

Nobody will comment on ongoing litigation, of course, but you can count the days that Garza will be seen going up to the third floor of the Cameron County administrative building on your fingers and toes.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

The only thing to say about our Cameron County judicial system is "Who is next to be fired, jailed, indicted, or otherwise accused?" Corruption and incompetence reign, only the faces change. And we continue to say that Cameron County residents don't just accept corruption and abuse; they demand it. And in turn elected officials and their underlings continue to give us all the bullshit we can deal with.

Anonymous said...

I don't blame Garza for leaving based on principle. His boss is forever chasing and FAILING at his job. Good for Garza deciding not to ruin someone else's life. It's funny though, how the DA manages to keep the heat off of himself when his family members have murdered innocent people. Simply because they have issues, and can't control themselves enough to not drink and drive. Shame on him and his people! How about investigating the hit and run of Ralph Tipton's wife and use county funds wisely? How about not spending a ridiculous amount of money ($350,000) on Yzaguirre's bogus charges and arrest. Though he has the nerve to tell families who have lost loved ones, with no due justice, that his office doesn't have funds to investigate their unfortunate deaths. Funny how he picks and chooses which cases, whether they are substantial or not, makes the headlines and makes him feel godly. Really, when you get down to the nitty gritty of things, he's simply a narcissistic sociopath. A bully who projects his authority by attacking others. As long as he can maintain his aggressive position, then he gets to feel like a winner.

Anonymous said...

Soon the peices will fall and so will this DA Luis Saenz. He is an egomaniac that is HELL bent on bringing people down in the tax office. This will be to his own demise !! He continually runs his office like a inept, angry bully that throws a tantrum and expects everyone to abide by his rules. People are talking about the way he conducts his day to day operations and it is not favorable conversation. He orchestrated the raid on the tax office as a ploy to garnish much needed votes to secure a win over Masso in his last reelection bid. His days in the State prosecutors chair is numbered. This man's incompetence has tarnished our county long enough. Time for him to be outed for the worthless man that he is. We the people deserve better than what we have been given. Time for the Department of Justice to remove this scumbag from office and truly end CORRUPTION.

Anonymous said...

I agree that Saenz is worthless and ethically -challenged,but, the shenanigans over at the tax office need to be investigated and prosecuted . Too many properties were acquired by some in a dishonest manner. Tony Y. knew what was going on my guess is he was involved too. Saenz and Tony Y. are the most unethical elected officials along with Tony Martinez and Eddie Trevino .

Anonymous said...

Ha ha ha ! You people are a joke The tax office is corrupt to the core and has been since yzaguirre took office , all the people talking smack against the district attorney are felons ! Or have been put in jail or will be jailed soon enough the scumbag is yzaguirre, the hood rat too going down

Anonymous said...

To the family of the tax assessor, you are posting such fake nonsense , put the blame where it go we are sorry for your hurt feelings but the assessor has and was taking cash for favors plain and simple , sorry but choices have consequences and he must be removed and punished for his bad choices oh and watch your back those people are really NOT your friends

Anonymous said...

Dream on. Luis Saenz was elected by the majority vote, so get over it. We got four more years so let's move forward.

Anonymous said...

Es mejor aqui corrio que aqui quedo
Obviously this guy knew to get out before hatchet falls

Anonymous said...

Back up your allegations of Yzaguirre's guilt of bribery, and whatever other charges that were brought against him last year. You can't just throw things out there, make arrest against people by mete hear say. Doesn't work like that in the court law....At least it not supposed to work that way but this is good ol' corrupted Cameron County where things are run the ol' Mexico Way !! It will be hard to convince me of the man's guilt because of tainted evidence, forged signatures, lies and the mere fact that Luis headed this investigation. INDICT SAENZ and see if a new DA would use this fictious tainted evidence.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous at 5:11. What about all the properties that were bought on the cheap by his people ? You really believe he wasn't involved ? That he didn't know what was going on ? Only reason he hasn't been busted on that is that just about every elected official were involved . Tony Y. and Saenz are the same; greedy,soul-less vultures .

Anonymous said...

Fiction my ass ... have s employees have given up some evidence wait and see you live in a world of make believe

Anonymous said...

Anonymous January 14th 4:23pm
Well we will see what evidence they have...... If the said charges can be proven.....
You play you pay !!

Anonymous said...

Why the hell are people confusing the raid last January with a property scandal ? Yzaguirre's arrest last year had nothing to do with properties.....Unless it was a fishing expedition.

Anonymous said...

What about " dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres"?

RGV LEO! said...

For all those who think that Gus Garza is a good prosecutor? Think again, and if you don't believe that he isn't? Go watch him in court! He's about as worthless as a tick on a hog and is just as worthless as elia "corn hole" lopez! The only reason that Gus Garza gets any convictions is because of Judge's like Janet Leal, who are "too" State minded and with her comments and "faces" when trial is going on in her court. Ask any defense attorney who has tried cases in front of her? Good riddance that Gus is leaving!

rita