PRE-TRIAL RELEASE HELPED MAIL-IN FRAUD POLITIQUERAS

By Juan Montoya
For decades, local women known as "politiqueras" have influenced elections in southeast Cameron County, often fraudulently harvesting mail-in votes from gullible Hispanic elderly who trusted them and gave away their ballots sometimes in return for a half-dozen tamales.
These women, often in the employ of local politicians, at one time boasted they could influence the outcome of elections when they wanted, nullifying the honest vote.
On July 16, 2014, a Cameron County grand jury – based on evidence presented them by the Texas Attorney General – indicted four women involved in the voting fraud for pay.
Their actions – according to the Texas Election Code – struck at the very foundation of the democratic system by influencing the total votes and distorting the will of the electorate.
The four women were indicted on 23 charges of mail-in voter fraud. Their bond was set at $2,500 per count.
The very next day – July 17 – the Cameron County Pre-Trial Release Program interviewed them and approved bargain-rate 3 percent bonds that allowed their employers through their relatives to pay $77 on a $2,500 bond and be set free.
So, for a total cash outlay of $1,771, the four women walked out of the Rucker-Carrizales county jail based on three percent of a total bond of  $57,500.
In previous posts we have shown how these cut-rate bonds – ostensibly meant to assist the indigent to regain their freedom while awaiting trial, have been issued to defendants charged with violent crimes, injuries against children, Family Violence Assault., aggravated sexual assault against a child, and even assault against public servants.

Now, that assistance has been also provided to those who manipulated the votes of gullible elderly for the benefit of dishonest politicians.
Many local residents have complained to this blog that the program's implementation has strayed far off its intended purposes. District Judge Arturo Nelson introduced the Pre Trial Release Program to address the social need for a way to assist the poor and indigent. To that end, he chose Kevin Saenz, who just happened to be his campaign treasurer as its director.
Many critics of the program say that the department has sought to inflate its numbers to justify its existence and has resulted in a subsidized competition against commercial bail bonds companies in the county.
Some have asked where they can voice their displeasure at this. Again, we publish the names and phone numbers of the county judge and commissioners.
Teresa said...
No person charged with a violent crime should be allowed to use this PTR program. Typical abuse and misuse of programs that are meant to help low-income non violent offenders. Who do we complain to via a letter? This is completely wrong.
April 13, 2005 at 1:03 p.m.

Cameron County Judge and Commissioners

County Judge Pete Sepulveda Ph: (956) 544-0830 Carlos.Cascos@co.cameron.tx.us

Pct. 1 Sofia Beanvides Ph: (956) 574-8167 Email: sofia.benavides@co.cameron.tx.us

Pct. 2 Alex Dominguez Ph: (956) 983-5092  Email: alex.dominguez@co.cameron.tx.us

Pct. 3 David Garza Ph: (956) 361-8209 Email: dagarza@co.cameron.tx.us

Pct. 4 David Sanchez Ph: (956) 427-8069 Email: dan.sanchez@co.cameron.tx.us

Address: 1100 E. Monroe Street

Dancy Building
Brownsville, Texas 78520