Stuff, someone once said, flows downhill.
That maxim set us thinking.
Just two days ago during a plea hearing for Leonel Lopez Jr. — who served Rio Grande City as municipal judge and worked part-time for state Rep. Ryan Guillen — Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto “Bobby” Lopez Jr. described a convoluted bribery scheme that sought to steer $50 million worth of infrastructure contracts
Investigation by the FBI and IRS resulted in an indictment charging Lopez Jr. with federal programs bribery. He pleaded guilty Friday. During the plea hearing, the AUSA described a sprawling conspiracy which Lopez apparently masterminded the bribery scheme and which involved corrupt engineers, attorneys and businessmen.Leonel Lopez Jr. accepted more than $4 million from Company A, Company B and Company C, according to information discussed at the plea hearing. Leonel Lopez Jr. kept about $2.5 million.
He passed the remaining money to Individual A, Individual B and Individual C, who made payments to Weslaco City “Commissioner A” and Weslaco City “Commissioner B.”
Commissioner A is an attorney who served on the Weslaco City Commission from about 1995 to 2014, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez. Commissioner B is a current member of the Weslaco City Commission who was elected in 2009.
Both accepted bribes.
Leonel Lopez Jr. kept about $2.5 million for himself. As a condition of the plea, he agreed to forfeit that money.
“In exchange for the bribes, commissioners A and B voted in favor of infrastructure projects related to Weslaco’s water processing facilities and steered over $50 million in contracts to companies A, B and C,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez said. “Companies A and B then granted subcontracts to Company C.”
Leonel Lopez Jr. is scheduled for sentencing July 15. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
As we said, stuff travels downhill and now San Benito Independent School District taxpayers are eyeing their own $40 million bond issue where the SBISD board majority controlled by Place 4 trustee Orlando "Papas" Lopez and includes board president Michael Vargas promptly hired Joseph Palacios projects manager to handle the bond money.Palacios is a former Hidalgo County commissioner,.
San Benito voters of passed the bond issue November 6, 2018, that will allow San Benito CISD to build a state-of-the-art performing arts center, an aquatics center, and an indoor multipurpose athletic facility.
It is the Hidalgo County/San Benito ties that bind that has some city residents wary.
* Lopez, for example, works in Weslaco.
*And board president Vargas landed the plum position of City of Pharr Economic Development Corporation.
* And the SBISD employee health insurance was handed to Yvonne Ortegon, who just happens to be married to new Hidalgo County commissioner David Fuentes. Why she doesn't use her maiden name in her business is left for you to figure out. She is vying for the new contract this year, too.
* Last year the SBISD had its fundraiser golf tournament was held the Tierra Santa Golf course at Weslaco. Ditto for this year, and if you had been present you'd have learned that Palacios contributed the first $25,000 from his own pocket. More where that came from?
Has Hidalgo County hijacked the SBISD $40 million bond issue? Many people here are looking at these relationships between board members and Hidalgo County movers and shakers and can't help but have a gnawing, growing suspicion.
16 comments:
What a bunch of sorry fucking sacks of shit. I hate a fucking thief, especially some smiling, self righteous bastards.
jUAN The caption here should be that the players involved should be Rata A, Rata B, Rata C and Rata D, if there is one lol. Follkd in Weslaco knew it was just a mtter of time that all these involved would be caught, now waht about the mariconcito ex City Manager Leo Olivares, he participated too, hope he is picked up as well.
Isn’t that guy wearing glasses the one that was accused of grading some dudes crouch ?
At 11:28 you mean grabbing ? Yes that is the guy there was an article in some paper about it. Must have been a hell of a party. Who says educators can’t party.
You forgot to mention that the legal council for SBISD is Tony Torres. He is also from the mafia of Weslaco.
When will the Gallegos come up for grand jury study? Will it all be swept under the rug?
Papas es business partner de David Fuentes.
Corruption exists all throughout the world. Your attempt is to tie one occurrence with another that has NOTHING to do with the other. Fake News! My family and I are generational families of San Benito and I HATE when the real corrupt individuals attempt to fabricate stories to politicize issues and disregard truth. The truth, which I urge everyone here to do, is to submit an open records specific to board member ML Garcia. She has NO REASON being on a board when she herself has caused the district a total of 8(!) lawsuits of discrimination that have and continue to cost the district tens of thousands of dollars. She is a damn BULLY, a liar, and would NEVER fit the role of a true public servant. That is the real disgrace to our community.
Gosh, which one is worse? A bully who is not afraid of asking questions or an elected official who is corrupted??? One board member got that job in Pharr through wheeling n dealing n using SB taxpayer money.
Hey sanbenecitizen, everybody knows that your real identity is Michael A. Vargas. You don't know what the truth is if it hit you in the ***. Why are you even bringing up ML Garcia. What does she have to do with you allegedly grabbing somebody's crotch.
Blogger of 12:09 = you mean to tell me that San Benito ISD school board also has one like the idiot that BISD has on theirs. Pinche viejas amargadas!
Oh, but BISD has 3 pinche viejas. San Bene is lucky to only have one.
WOW sent them all to brownsville we need to replenish the ones we have for more bully types and smarter so they won't get caught verdad voters?
Why not name the corrupt contractors? Is someone protecting Dannenbaum,
and Mago Marin ?
Brownsville is downhill go to the local sporting goods store and by a fish (ah) turd net. Can't let them get away WE NEED THEM.
Hmm. I wonder if the same company that scammed San Bene on their water plant has anything to do with the Weslaco criminality?? I believe they have offices in Weslaco as well as Harlingen area. The crotch grabber dude from the school district has a lot more to hide. Slowly it’s catching up with them. Right, Papas Fritos??
Look out that been there 50 years will sing like a canary
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