Thursday, August 17, 2017

D.A. TAKES OVER THEFT PROBE OF CHIEF CARLOS ELIZONDO

By Juan Montoya
The Cameron County District Attorney's Office has confirmed that it will take over the Theft by Public Official investigation on Brownsville Fire Chief Carlos Elizondo.

Image result for carlos elizondo brownsvilleAt the core of the investigation is a complaint by the Firefighters  Local 970 Association that more than $8,000 are missing and unaccounted for from the group's Political Action Committee (PAC) fund.

Current association president Jorge Lerma filed the complaint with the Brownsville Police Dept. August 14 and said that the money went missing during the time that ELizondo was the group's president from January 2014 through May 2016 and that during that time he was in sole control  of the account with the local Compass Bank.

 Lerma, in Offense Report Call Number 17082235 told Officer J. Vallejo that after the group's new officers discovered the missing funds, they went to the Cameron County DA's Office and were directed to file the complaint with the BPD, the entity with criminal jurisdiction.

Lerma, who has been president of the association since February, said that in reviewing the books it was discovered that more than $8,000 in the group's account was unaccounted for.

After making inquiries with Compass, he said the group found out that "Chief Elizondo had made numerous ATM cash withdrawals on numerous occasions which should not have been made because all withdrawals need to be accounted for."

Elizondo denied the charges to a reporter from the Brownsville Herald saying: "I deny the allegations. It’s news to me and it’s being done for political reasons,” (he) said when asked about the allegations. “It’s politically driven. It’s a direct attack. He’s the union president. It’s a ploy to attack my credibility and discredit me and the whole department.”

Lerma said that Elizondo had not provided any documentation indicating how the money was spent and who received it.

Lerma said that some of the PAC funds were spent during the time that Elizondo was running for a position as a trustee for the Brownsville Independent School District. His term as trustee expires on November 2018.

"After the missing money was discovered, (Lerma) contacted Chief Elizondo on March 2017 and requested an explanation for the missing money but he (Elizondo) has not provided anything."

The charge of Theft by a Public Servant is classified as a State Jail Felony. The case status is classified as "active."

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

El triple "T",,, pinch pelado pendejo !!!

Anonymous said...

Heads are rolling, one by one. Salsa Sossi started the domino effect. It's going to be an interesting episode, we'll see the Brownsville politicians demise, the rise and fall, take your chairs, raise a tall one and enjoy the show!

Anonymous said...

The sad part is Firefighters are getting terminated and it's called RETALIATION!! Carlos your a thief accept you took the money and man up, unfortunately you have no respect for the Firefighters and your LEADERSHIP SUCKS because not only are you bold you are an ASS HOLE..
KARMA is a BITCH and please don't claim to be a Christian Man por que ENTRAS COMIENDO SANTOS Y SALES CAGANDO DIABLOS cuando vas a MISA!!!
It's clear it went to your head and ARROGANCE is the downfall of all IDIOTS who get elected and forget..
Let's see who is going to be your Attorney? Baltazar Salazar? Hmmm maybe not!!!Carlitos will you be bringing the BIGGER ASS HOLE NOE GARZA? Or will they both find you someone ? You will need an Attorney and Remember All of you are worthless ASS HOLES AND PIECES OF SHIT!!

Anonymous said...

So what that the DA's office has it. He can always seal it like he did for another school board member and for his nephew and who knows how many more.
A sealed indictment means what? Just forget about it and the public will forget, too? If Chief Elizondo did this, then I gave him more credit as a sound individual when I voted for him for the school board, but disappointed in how I casted my vote for him and another lady really makes me consider not voting anymore.

Anonymous said...

Sergeant at Arms State Capitol and the Ethics Commission State Capitol plus numerous reporters people and other legislatures disgusted with behavior of District 37 leader

JOE said...

LUIS BE FAIR AND HONEST !
THIS GUY IS SO CORRUPT .

Anonymous said...

BISD LEADERSHIP SUCKS .

Anonymous said...

Attention Mr Rene Oliveira, Please understand you are a homewrecker. Please understand that lobbyist are to be listened to and not used like ATM MACHINE. Please understand that money you recieve from groups you vote in their favor is extremely illegal and you do not care about us in District 37 when you accept those trips professional games dinners drinks etc.... You are not stupid and neither are WE THE PEOPLE. Your silver tongue has tarnished to the dark color brown. You will lose the Democratic Primary. We the People have had enough of your games and lies. Your words mean nothing.

Anonymous said...

How can Elizondo effectively discipline subordinates for violating policies, when he is violating policy himself?

Namely:

Section 702 Political Activity by City Employees

It is said that Charlie Cabler has approved such action, so "It's okay". So Cabler can bend policy when it is convenient?

Cabler can override city ordinances to allow Elizondo's private EMS company to work in the city limit$?

What a crock of shit. City Commissioners, PLEASE keep cleaning house!

Anonymous said...

If the glove fits you can't acquit.

Anonymous said...

All depends on the evidence. Those accusers better have a strong case. I smell retaliation. They better have good attorneys this sort of thing can bite you in the ass real quick

Anonymous said...

Bobby Wightman is boring

Anonymous said...

Oye Montoya, It sure is bizarre down here. We have VOZ DE LOS VATOS, VOZ DE LOS JOTOS, VOZ DE LOS CORRUPTOS, Y VOZ DE LAS LESBIANAS. Que chingado sige? Ese McHale no vale verga

Anonymous said...

A lot of energy going backwards, juanito.

Anonymous said...

Maybe his friends like sylvia garza Perra can come to his rescue or even the old county jerk Rivera they know how to get away with theft I hope you get a good ada to do this job well they all flock together like ratas oh better yet MASSO can represent him you know his clicka

Anonymous said...

To the comments ending in "Commissioners, please keep cleaning house"

I agree with you - however we shouldn't ask they do that. We should demand the do that! - They are public servants and the public is US. We put them there and we didn't do it for free! Theres no such thing as a free lunch.

We put them there for something in return, and what we want in return is good governance, competent City employees - You canT have a Police Officer with no proper education in City Management. Its ridiculous and its a reflection of our City leadership. We are the largest City in the Valley and we are the largest laughing stalk in the Valley.

He have MUCH BETTER things going for us than McAllen - What do they have? a lot of retail, dave and busters, restaurants? what does that do for a community? How much does a waiter/waitress make per hour? How much does a hostess at Dave and Buster make?

We have the Port Of Brownsville, SATA, SpaceX, potentially the steel manufacturing plant... COME ON YOU PEOPLE (CITY COMMISSION) DO SOMETHING!!!

YOU CANT SEE AN OPPORTUNITY EVEN IF ITS SLAPPING YOU IN FACE??!!?!?!?!?!?

Anonymous said...

Cabler has to go.

Anonymous said...

D.A. SAENZ takes over??? haha that is funny. That is the Fox guarding the hen house. Nothing will change as long as luis saenz is in office

Anonymous said...

El poder marea a los tontos, y a los locos los vuelve pendejos dice el dicho.

rita