By Juan Montoya
After a lifetime of living in Brownsville, we have noticed several disturbing tre
nds concerning the application of justice for different people.
After a lifetime of living in Brownsville, we have noticed several disturbing tre
nds concerning the application of justice for different people. The example below is just one indication that should trouble all of us. In the cases involving Mike Gonzalez, former executive director of the Brownsville Visitors and Convention Bureau (BVCB) and Jason Hilts, executive director of the Brownsville Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), the alleged violations are nearly identical: use of the organizations’ credit cards for personal use. However, the outcome couldn’t be more different.
Consider:
Mike Gonzalez (Brownsville Herald, March 31, 2009)
Authorities allege that Gonzalez and Margarita Lopez, a former BCVB office manager, misappropriated more than $280,000 in unauthorized credit card purchases on cards belonging to BVCB dating back possibly to November 2005. Gonzalez was accused writing personal checks to himself using a BCVB checking account, police said. Both charges were first-degree felonies that carry up to 99 years in prison.
Jason Hilts (Brownsville Herald. Dec. 21, 2003)
When he was vice president in 1997 and 1998, Hilts used the BEDC credit card to purchase clothing from Mervyns in Los Angeles and Mission Viejo, Calif., slacks, shirts and means coordinates from Dillards in Brownsville, more clothes from the Burlington Coat Factory in McAllen, a diamond ring from J.C. Penney in Brownsville, goods from Stein Mart in San Antonio, general merchandise and jewelry from Target in Brownsville, jewelry/repair/sales from Golden Time in Brownsville, and a $1,077.09 silver clock from the Jewel Gallery in Brownsville.
OUTCOME:
Mike Gonzalez
The BCVB board called in the police and prosecuted Gonzalez who owned up to the violations and had to pay restitution and serve a lengthy probation period. No one came to his defense or called the errors in judgment a “mistake.”
Jason Hilts
The BEDC board did not seek prosecution of their CEO and Hilts said he “regretted” the credit card use. BEDC board members wrote letters of support for Hilts. He then complained that he was being “singled out” because “everyone in the organization at one time or another at that time was making personal purchases and then reimbursing. They had some loose controls...Everyone, you know, we got, you get your hand slapped.” From December 2002 to June 2003 taxpayers paid for $2,157 in meals, $2,840 in hotel stays, $299 for gasoline expenses for rental cars, $1,183 for rental cars, and $1,501 for airline tickets.
Mike Gonzalez (Brownsville Herald, March 31, 2009)
Authorities allege that Gonzalez and Margarita Lopez, a former BCVB office manager, misappropriated more than $280,000 in unauthorized credit card purchases on cards belonging to BVCB dating back possibly to November 2005. Gonzalez was accused writing personal checks to himself using a BCVB checking account, police said. Both charges were first-degree felonies that carry up to 99 years in prison.
Jason Hilts (Brownsville Herald. Dec. 21, 2003)
When he was vice president in 1997 and 1998, Hilts used the BEDC credit card to purchase clothing from Mervyns in Los Angeles and Mission Viejo, Calif., slacks, shirts and means coordinates from Dillards in Brownsville, more clothes from the Burlington Coat Factory in McAllen, a diamond ring from J.C. Penney in Brownsville, goods from Stein Mart in San Antonio, general merchandise and jewelry from Target in Brownsville, jewelry/repair/sales from Golden Time in Brownsville, and a $1,077.09 silver clock from the Jewel Gallery in Brownsville.
OUTCOME:
Mike Gonzalez
The BCVB board called in the police and prosecuted Gonzalez who owned up to the violations and had to pay restitution and serve a lengthy probation period. No one came to his defense or called the errors in judgment a “mistake.”
Jason Hilts
The BEDC board did not seek prosecution of their CEO and Hilts said he “regretted” the credit card use. BEDC board members wrote letters of support for Hilts. He then complained that he was being “singled out” because “everyone in the organization at one time or another at that time was making personal purchases and then reimbursing. They had some loose controls...Everyone, you know, we got, you get your hand slapped.” From December 2002 to June 2003 taxpayers paid for $2,157 in meals, $2,840 in hotel stays, $299 for gasoline expenses for rental cars, $1,183 for rental cars, and $1,501 for airline tickets.
He remains in a high-paying position paid for by the sales tax receipts generated by the people who shop in Brownsville.
After an honest appraisal, don’t you think the average reader would conclude that there are two sets of rules for people of different groups? If we are to be fair and impartial in the application of justice, these kinds of disparities should trouble all of us. After all, the money comes from the same pockets: ours.
5 comments:
David Alex did the same at the Hgn Chamber, Nothing happened to him, figure that one!
Fair and impartial? Really? Here in Brownsville? Maybe Medrano, Kerney, Knopp could write a book that documents all the "fairness and impartiality" down here. It would be a best seller. While they are at it, they could also include scenerios from BISD and UTB/TSC.
Citizenship Classification by Race / Ethnicity in the U.S.A. :
. 1st Class - Anglo - Saxon , White Caucasians
. 2nd Class - African - Americans, Blacks
. 3rd Class - Far- East Asian Americans
. 4th Class - Middle Easterners, Hindues
. 5th Class - Native AmerIndians
. 6th Class Citizens - Mexican - Americans; Hispanica, Latinos, Cholos/as, Pochos/as, Chucos/as, Chuntaros/ Chongs...
. 7th Class Resident /Individuals - Illegal Aliens.
The rumor in harlingen chamber of commerce was around $100.000, then when he left they gave him a brand new Ford Expedition, than a secretary pocketed something like $20.000 on personal items in a credit card. Was arrested, but no one ever found out the outcmome of the case. In fact, a detective,from the harlingen Police dept. defended her, by calling her a good person.
If you are white and have an anglo sur name. You can get away with murder. Pinche jente vendida.
Classification of races where did you get the information, was it from the census bureau???
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