On July 7, 2015, delinquent-tax attorneys Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP had the sheriff hold a tax resale at the steps of the Cameron County Courthouse.
There were 16 properties resold that day.
After the time where the owners are given an opportunity to pay their taxes and reclaim the land, the three main taxing entities, the City of Brownsville, the Brownsville Independent School District, and Cameron Cameron County were asked to accept or reject the bids or offers for the properties.Among them was one in downtown Brownsville described as 2015-071 - the rear one half (1/2) lot No. 3 in Block One Hundred and fifty-three (153) of the City of Brownsville, together with any or all improvements therein (01-0000-1530-0030-00)
The street address, according to the Cameron County Appraisal District (CCAD), was 1242 E. Van Buren St. (rear).The property, measuring 3,000 square feet, is located next to the law offices of Tony Martinez, Horacio Barrera, and Trey Martinez at 1206 E. Van Buren Street. According to the CCAD information on the property, it was valued at 13,500. The bid for the property was for $5,200 in cash.
On November 3, 2015, the City of Brownsville Commission met in executive session with Mayor Tony Martinez presiding, to discuss the sale of the 16 properties with city attorney Mark Sossi, on recommendation by John D. Guevara, the delinquent tax firm representative.
After executive session, on a motion by commissioner Ricardo Longoria and seconded by commissioner Rose Gowen, the commission voted unanimously to accept the bids for the properties from the buyers. Among those who voted to sell the property for the taxes owed the BISD, the county and the city was Mayor Tony Martinez. In fact, in the tax resale deed carried his signature. (See graphic above)
On the Tax Resale Deed field with the Cameron County Clerk's Office, the property, assigned Instrument #2015-00046460 was signed over to the buyer by Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda, BISD president Minerva Peña, and Tony Martinez, the mayor of the City of Brownsville.
Everything seemed to have been done right except for one thing.
The buyer turned out to be none other than the same Tony Martinez. The Tax Resale Deed (see graphic right) lists the buyer as Antonio Martinez, 1206 E. Van Buren St. who sat in on executive session to consider accepting his own bid for the property.
In fact, in the tape of the commission meeting, Martinez calls for the vote and votes unanimously to accept his own bid. (See graphic below.)
Marra was acquitted of one conflict of interest charge and convicted of a second charge in November 2011 in Cameron County Court-at-Law No. 3, forfeiting her seat on the City Commission with less than one year remaining on her term of office. Marra was sentenced in 2011 to 30 days in jail and fined $500.
The charge was that as a city commissioner, she participated in a vote or decision on a matter that had a special economic effect on a business in downtown Harlingen in which she had a substantial interest without first filing an affidavit stating the nature and extent of her interest in the business.
An appeals court overturned that conviction, but Marra lost her seat on the Harlingen city commission and spent time in jail.
Now, we wonder, voting to accept your own bid on a piece of property sold for delinquent taxes and getting it at less than half the assessed value would seem to us to be a slam dunk for Saenz if he decided to look into the matter. But as we've seen in the past in cases involving Marra, Ernie Hernandez, Joe Hernandez, John Chambers, Tony Yzaguirre, and Pete Sepulveda, Saenz is highly selective and prosecutes based on other considerations – some say political – than the equal application of the law toward everyone.
In fact, just two few weeks before Martinez sold himself the property, he invited Saenz to address the city commission on the issue of domestic violence on October 20, 2015.. The ambience can only be described as "chummy."
Will our DA do his job impartially this time around? Or will he allow this type of self-dealing to go unchecked while he sits in his office on the third floor of the courthouse just two blocks away from Martinez's office and the property in question?
12 comments:
If Luis Saenz prosecuted Kori Marra back when he was a special prosecutor, he will surely prosecute the Mayor as Saenz is now District Attorney. Like his friend Victor Cortez says: "No One Is Above the Law". Just the mere fact that he has the COURAGE to go after former County Judge and CCRMA Director Pete Sepulveda, he will surely prosecute the Mayor for participating in a vote or decision on a matter that had a special economic effect on his business, without first filing an affidavit stating the nature and extent of his interest as required by Sections 171.003 and 171.004 of the local government code,. See Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. Sec. 171.003(a)(1), (b), 171.004(a)(1)(west 2008).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzbHY9D1Ef8
Saenz will do the right thing, he even filed for an appeal on Kori Marra's Aquittal by the Court of Appeals, if he was relentless back then, he will surely serve justice for the public now.
http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_27e6df44-0c6e-11e3-9ba3-0019bb30f31a.html
Thank goodness he has until 11/02/17 to file complaint, if the Mayor participated in the meeting on 11/3/15, then the statute of limitations to prosecute doesn't toll until 11/2/17.
Luis and the Mayor are friends, he doesnt back stab friends:
Video of Prior Commissioner’s Court held on 10/20/15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2THe2abIcA&list=PL_ffKf9NIs6l4p5K-1bf1EDsX2BATd5Wc&index=2
Refer to Minute
11:26 of video
The district attorney will do his job and more arrest to come Tony Martinez is a crook along with Eddie Trevino , the cunty judge
Luis Saenz will do what suits him best. That is what he always does. He picks and chooses who he targets and how his department will prosecute cases according to what benefits him best. We are after all talking about the most CORRUPT politicians our county has ever seen. He is a disgrace and his shitty ways of running things will come to the end..... Hopefully before more people are intentionally hurt by this BASTARD
Fault here truly lies on those who allow this kinda of situation to ever happen.
To all those voting and approving this type of action I say "C'mon you guys, you get voted in to watch out on behalf of the people you represent." Don't continue to the already negative stigma of the word: politician Own your responsibility to do the right thing, even when people aren't looking.
COME ON DA...DO YOUR JOB IT SOUNDS LIKE A CLEAR SLAM DUNK CASE ON THE CITY MAYOR OR IS THIS JUST ANOTHER SELECTIVE PROSECUTION. DO THESE POLITICANS NEED TO STEP ON YOUR TOES OR GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR POLITICAL ENDEAVOR. IF THIS INVOLVED YOUR ORIDNARY JOE PUBLIC...I BET YOU THE DA WOULD BE ON THEM LIKE FLIES ON SHIT. SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS ABOUT GETTING RID OF POLITICAL CORRUPTIONS LIKE THIS CASE ON THE BROWNSVILLE CITY MAYOR. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A CLEAR AND OBVIOUS SET OF FACTS THAT CAN EASILY BE PROSECUTED TO SHOW INTENT, KNOWINGLY, AND RECKLESSLY CONDUCT BY DECEPTION. JUST THE FACT HE INTENTIONALLY AND KNOWINGLY USED AN ALTERED NAME TO BIT ON A PROPERLY IN HIS CITY JURDICTION CAUSING TO DECEASE HIS CONSTITUENTS THE PUBLIC. IT WON'T BE SURPRISED THAT SOME OR ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS KNEW OF THIS BAD SALE INCLUDING THE CITY ATTORNEY. IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN ALL BECOME CONSPIRATORS OF THE OFFENSE UNDER THE TEXAS PENAL CODE. SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO MR. DA...IT'S TIME FOR YOU STEP UP AGAIN? OR, IS THIS PERSON SO POWERFUL THAT YOUR AFRAID TO PROSECUTE AND SIDE STEP THIS CASE TOOOOOOO. FOUR YEARS COME VERY QUICKLY!!!!!
Luis Saenz may have known of this transaction even prior to the vote. He has been placing a DA employee at every tax sale to monitor who is registering to bid and purchase properties. So the fact that this matter was approved for some time now and he has not moved to prosecute speaks multitudes regarding his intention of selective prosecution.
We like the cow fat before we strike , there is more!
Mr. Saenz your tenure as our DA has afforded the people of our country paltry justice on public corruption crimes. When you're not turning a blind eye you are swinging a wet noodle.
And you Mr. Masso would be worse with your family ties to illegal gambling, organized crime syndicates, and your hand out at the city port.
Will someone out there with some guts and integrity step up as our next DA?
Thank you to Mr. Montoya for providing the real news around here.
pura caca ese saenz, no va ser NADA
Saenz evil at work the devil's playground is the DA's office. His office is a joke. They pick and choose how and which cases to prosecute. We the people are not protected by this SOB Luis V. Saenz. He allows drunk drivers and murderers to get away their crimes. Pathetic excuse for a state prosecutor.
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