The former clerk of Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 , Place 2, Erin Hernandez Garcia was booked on three counts of tampering with a government document and one of bribery in connection with defendants not performing community hours and of getting payments to fix civil cases in that court.
Lilian Cantu, 33, was booked at the Carrizales-Rucker County Jail today after a grand jury indicted her October 22.
For months, talk at the courthouse has revolved around whether Cantu will go down herself or whether she will – as she has said before – take down everyone who was involved in the scheme.
In the first count of the tampering with government documents Cantu is accused of making false entries in the community service agreements indicating that the defendants Magda Falcon, Guadalupe Gonzalez and Jesus Rodriguez had completed their community service hours.
In the remaining count of bribery, Cantu is charged with accepting a cash payment from Vanessa Mercado "as consideration for a favorable decision in a judicial proceeding, two civil court cases.
The indictment does not state whether Cantu received money for making the false entries, nor does it state the nature of the civil cases.
In the bribery case, the state does not indicate how it was that Cantu was able to render a favorable judicial decision since she is not a justice of the peace or if she was working with any elected official and sharing in the bribe. Both cases are civil small claims filed in the
Details are sketchy but sources say that Cantu had been involved in a scheme whereby those who were referred to that office for performance of community service hours were offered to make a cash payment instead. Cantu reportedly resigned her job after the scheme was discovered.
This is not the first time that there have been irregularities emanating from that office. The last time it involved employees who had been working there when the late Tony Torres was presiding at the court. No charges were ever filed on the matter.
Sources say that the investigation has not stopped and that there may be personnel in other county offices who may have been working in concert with Cantu in the service-hours for cash scheme.
It is unknown how long Cantu and others may have been working the scheme. The Constable's office from Pct. 5 handled the investigation.
In the past, Cantu has said she will not go down alone.
"You all should get your facts straight," Cantu wrote this blog. "I never ever touched money. I never stole anything, but now that investigators are on everyone's case I will clean my name and heads will roll from several offices," she wrote.
"I am not hiding, everyone better well remember my name from Constables office, to JP 2-1 and JP2-2. I was accused not of stealing but of a non-approved community service...Hold up ladies and gentleman, there will be a grand finale and the real rats will be exposed.
I NEVER ROBBED! But I know who is been doing it and now that I have nothing to loose I will fight to clear my name...No, people, Mrs. Garcia didn't report 'the wrong doing' I know who did and why."
The source of the reports that there was some hanky-panky going on in Erin's court apparently was made public when Cantu did not resign from her position after the new JP took over in November 2012 despite pressure being put on her so the new office holder could give the job to another person.
That person turned out to be Cynthia Lopez Rodriguez, they say. Cynthia Rodriguez is the sister-in-law of Sylvia Rodriguez, the administrative assistant to JP 2-1 Linda Salazar whose office is next to Erin Garcia's. Cynthia Lopez Garcia is married to Sylvia's brother Ernie Rodriguez whose family hold the court house coffee shop contract.
Her arrest came at the time when her former boss, JP Hernandez-Garcia, has been under scrutiny by the Cameron County District Attorney's office and a state grand jury for allegedly issuing and charging for fraudulent waivers to couples so they don't have to wait the state-mandated 72 hours between the issuing of a marriage license and the performance of the wedding ceremony.
After the grand jury subpoenaed the JP's marriage records, the DA requested an opinion from the Texas Attorney General to determine whether the office could legally issue (and sell) the waivers in accordance with the Texas Family Code. The AGO did not base its opinion on whether she was authorized to issue them but said that it was most likely that she wasn't.
Hernandez-Garcia has stated that she issued "a comfortable 10 or so" waivers during her 11 months in office. The DA's office included at least 13 such marriages performed in that office through the waivers.
District Attorney Luis Saenz has said that he hasn't decided when or whether the JP's case will be brought before a grand jury.
Locally, a group has started to circulate a petition demanding a grand jury be presented the evidence in the case.
Lilian Cantu, 33, was booked at the Carrizales-Rucker County Jail today after a grand jury indicted her October 22.
For months, talk at the courthouse has revolved around whether Cantu will go down herself or whether she will – as she has said before – take down everyone who was involved in the scheme.In the first count of the tampering with government documents Cantu is accused of making false entries in the community service agreements indicating that the defendants Magda Falcon, Guadalupe Gonzalez and Jesus Rodriguez had completed their community service hours.
In the remaining count of bribery, Cantu is charged with accepting a cash payment from Vanessa Mercado "as consideration for a favorable decision in a judicial proceeding, two civil court cases.
The indictment does not state whether Cantu received money for making the false entries, nor does it state the nature of the civil cases.
In the bribery case, the state does not indicate how it was that Cantu was able to render a favorable judicial decision since she is not a justice of the peace or if she was working with any elected official and sharing in the bribe. Both cases are civil small claims filed in the
Details are sketchy but sources say that Cantu had been involved in a scheme whereby those who were referred to that office for performance of community service hours were offered to make a cash payment instead. Cantu reportedly resigned her job after the scheme was discovered.
This is not the first time that there have been irregularities emanating from that office. The last time it involved employees who had been working there when the late Tony Torres was presiding at the court. No charges were ever filed on the matter.Sources say that the investigation has not stopped and that there may be personnel in other county offices who may have been working in concert with Cantu in the service-hours for cash scheme.
It is unknown how long Cantu and others may have been working the scheme. The Constable's office from Pct. 5 handled the investigation.
In the past, Cantu has said she will not go down alone.
"You all should get your facts straight," Cantu wrote this blog. "I never ever touched money. I never stole anything, but now that investigators are on everyone's case I will clean my name and heads will roll from several offices," she wrote.
"I am not hiding, everyone better well remember my name from Constables office, to JP 2-1 and JP2-2. I was accused not of stealing but of a non-approved community service...Hold up ladies and gentleman, there will be a grand finale and the real rats will be exposed.
I NEVER ROBBED! But I know who is been doing it and now that I have nothing to loose I will fight to clear my name...No, people, Mrs. Garcia didn't report 'the wrong doing' I know who did and why."
The source of the reports that there was some hanky-panky going on in Erin's court apparently was made public when Cantu did not resign from her position after the new JP took over in November 2012 despite pressure being put on her so the new office holder could give the job to another person.
That person turned out to be Cynthia Lopez Rodriguez, they say. Cynthia Rodriguez is the sister-in-law of Sylvia Rodriguez, the administrative assistant to JP 2-1 Linda Salazar whose office is next to Erin Garcia's. Cynthia Lopez Garcia is married to Sylvia's brother Ernie Rodriguez whose family hold the court house coffee shop contract.
Her arrest came at the time when her former boss, JP Hernandez-Garcia, has been under scrutiny by the Cameron County District Attorney's office and a state grand jury for allegedly issuing and charging for fraudulent waivers to couples so they don't have to wait the state-mandated 72 hours between the issuing of a marriage license and the performance of the wedding ceremony.
After the grand jury subpoenaed the JP's marriage records, the DA requested an opinion from the Texas Attorney General to determine whether the office could legally issue (and sell) the waivers in accordance with the Texas Family Code. The AGO did not base its opinion on whether she was authorized to issue them but said that it was most likely that she wasn't.
Hernandez-Garcia has stated that she issued "a comfortable 10 or so" waivers during her 11 months in office. The DA's office included at least 13 such marriages performed in that office through the waivers.
District Attorney Luis Saenz has said that he hasn't decided when or whether the JP's case will be brought before a grand jury.
Locally, a group has started to circulate a petition demanding a grand jury be presented the evidence in the case.
25 comments:
Fcking shit, when will the cesspool dry up, and people keep voting for these bastards.
Hmmm sounds like the judge is in a tight spot.
Locally, a group has started to circulate a petition demanding a grand jury be presented the evidence in the case.
That and the Hernandez voter fraud case coming up.
What about Israel Tapia and Slyvia Aldape they worked with Mago and Joann???
Liliana cantu is a thief...it was only a matter of time before she got herself into real trouble
From what I hear, Lilliana Cantu was the one taking the money and making promises. Apparently the judge and other staff members didn't have anything to do with it.
COME-ON MR. DA...ITS TIME TO GET THE JP'S CASE TO THE GRAND JURY...WHAT'S THE HOLD UP!!!!
She looks hot shit I will pay her bond
they are only arresting the small people how about the big fishes like from the Sheriffs Department. what ever happened to the Reynas. swept under the rug.
QUE BUENO. PUROS CORRUPTS EN LINDA SALAZARS OFFICE LA SYLVIA RODRIGUEZ, ANA SANCHEZ, Y ERIN HERNANDEZ-GARCIAS..TODAS. AND I THAT HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GET A JOB THERE...NOMBRE...HOPE THEY ALL GET SERVED FOR THEIR CORRUPTION. THEY THINK THEY ARE ALL THAT...ITS NOT RIGHT. I HOPE PEOPLE STOP VOTING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE ALL THE TIME...JS
Jp not involved ? Haha, doesnt the jp have the final word/ruling on the case, not the clerk ? Sounds like someone is trying to create some distance to wipe their hands clean.
1. If your gonna start mentioning names, mention yours first.
2. Learn how to SPELL .
3. Before you start judging and opening your mouth make sure you know the facts.
4. Last but not least if you weren't there to know what happen, don't make an ass out of yourself and keep your comments to your self
Our DA Luis Saenz is only creating a smoke screen to allow JP Erin Hernandez to finish her term without any indictment. Think about it... he indicts the little people for small fries and lets the big fish go. It is all about the head lines. He needs to make people think the is out for justice. The DA will then use the head lines for his re-election no matter the dismissal down the line. Cantu will tell the truth Saenz will cut a deal with Erin, Ernie and Norma Hernandez in return for their support for his Re-election. This is just a headliner to increase his hard ass I'm Not Dirty Campaign.
We are on to you Mr. DA Luis Saenz. You can't fool us we know how you work...just look how you let Ernie Hernandez slide by with a slap on his wrist allowing Ernie to slap you on your ass.
No way! Really? A former clerk with a suspected crooked JP in Erin Hernandez? No, really? Is she going to squeal on Erin or any other member of the family?
Oh well, what is new? Another crooked Mexican working for the county, abusing her office to line her pockets and the pockets of her boss.
There is an unending line of these people waiting for these pissant jobs. They are too ignorant or too lazy to get real jobs. They would prefer to lie, cheat and steal, for that is easier than earning your money the honest way.
Asi marcha la vida aqui en Browntown!
Agree with, (asi marcha la vida en browntown.
It's called picking up nickles in front of a steamroller.
I guess she didn't pass out the nalgas enough like Melissa? Maybe she can file sexual harassment on Erin for carpet munching?
It would only be FAIR if the DA is going to include ALL Cameron County JP's in the pay for waivers indictment, since they ALL issued them. And I know, you won't post this. Not when it's facts.
Liliana looks hot .
So true said of JP'S
We are on to you Mr. DA Luis Saenz. You can't fool us we know how you work...just look how you let Ernie Hernandez slide by with a slap on his wrist allowing Ernie to slap you on your ass.
Sigh. Again, your crass comments -- comparable to the way you consistently and unprofessional speak in person/public -- give you away, Zeke.
Your bag of back-stabbing knives I'm sure is getting heavy to lug around.
Se ve sabrosa la Gorda, presentenla yo le llevo sus cigarritos al tanque y le hago visita conyugal
Straight out of the Webster’s Dictionary
Double Dealing Person=Melissa Zamora
The practice of pretending to do or think one thing while really doing or thinking something different: Dishonest or Deceptive behavior given to or marked by cheating and deception
Politician= Luis Saenz
A person primarily interested in political office for SELFISH usually short-sighted reasons
Nice girl
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