EX-COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR INDICTED IN KICKBACK SCHEME

 Special to El Rrun-Rrun

 Lost in the din of public clamor over the Dr. Sylvia Atkinson indictment and subsequent conviction on eight counts of bribery and conspiracy, the federal government has indicted a former Cameron County Administrator and candidate for county clerk.

A federal grand jury indicted Arnoldo Romero Flores, now of Mission, Texas, charged Flores under the Hobbs Act with four counts of attempting to commit extortion under the color of official right and unlawfully obtaining two $1,500 and two $750 payments from a federal witness (A).

Flores is also charged with an additional three counts under the Travel Act of using a cell phone, personal email, and the Internet with the intent to promote, establish and carry on and facilitate extortion and bribery. The alleged criminal acts date back to October 2014(2) and May aw 2015 (2). 

The former Cameron County Director of Administrative Services pleaded not guilty, paid an unsecured $100,000 bond, and is awaiting trial.

The government alleges that Flores demanded the money in exchange for helping Witness A obtain a contract to maintain and update the Cameron County the Cameron County Parks and Recreation websites.

Before coming to Cameron County Flores was Executive District Director with the Texas Senate until December 2012. 

Upon leaving Cameron County in 2015, Flores was hired as Regional Director of Operations for IDEA School and then Vice President of Facilities and Construction in Weslaco. He now lists his employment status as "open to new opportunities."

Flores lists "Trey" Martinez as his attorney.

(Above is Flores, center, in happier times at the inauguration of Gov. Greg Abbott at the state capitol in Austin.)