GALLEGOS JR. OUT ON $250,000 BOND, $50 K IN CASH

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

A federal magistrate has set a bond of $250,000 with a cash surety of $50,000 on Ruben Gallegos Jr. – the CEO of International Education Services (IES) – on theft and conspiracy charges after the government "disallowed" more than $17 million in federal grant funds awarded to run a shelter in San Benito to provide services for unaccompanied migrant minors.   

Gallegos was arrested last week in Brownsville and had been scheduled for his initial court appearance on those charges last Wednesday, but was rushed to McAllen Medical Center from the Hidalgo County jail after suffering the heart trouble.

On Thursday, his father, IES President Ruben Gallegos Sr., and CFO Juan Gonzalez, made their first court appearance on identical charges. Gallego's Sr. was given a $250,000 bond with a $100,000 cash surety and Gonzalez – his brother-in-law and Gallegos Jr.'s uncle through marriage – was given a $100,000 bond and a $50,000 cash surety.

Both have filed motions requesting they not have to attend their Wednesday arraignment hearings.

A federal indictment states Gallegos used federal grants meant for shelter services for migrant children to hike his salary and the salaries of two other people by hundreds of thousands of dollars above the federally-required salary cap.

The indictments charges both Gallegos and Gonzalez paid themselves salaries way over the $183,000 cap limit. Gallegos Jr. set his 2017 salary at $435,416.88, Gallegos Sr. was paid $506, 0032.22 and Gonzalez $377,060.96. .

The IES contracted with the Unaccompanied Alien Children Program to provide temporary shelter care and other services and received millions of dollars in the form of federal grants  for each fiscal year from 2014 through 2018.

But in later tax filings, both Gallegos paid themselves more than $650,000 and Gonzalez over $550,000. Those numbers were not included in the indictments.

In addition to the bond and cash surety, the court set a list of conditions for Gallegos Jr. They are:

1. defendant must not violate federal, state or local law while on bond;

2. Pretrial supervision in the Brownsville Division.

3. maintain/actively seek employment and provide proof to the U.S. Probation Office

4. surrender passport to the U.S.Probation Office/not obtain a passport while case is pending;

5. Travel is restricted to the Southern District of Texas. No travel into Mexico.

6. avoid contact with any person who is or may become a potential victim in the investigation or prosecution of this case, including any co-defendants, victims or potential victims, with the exception of his father Ruben Gallegos Sr.

7. submit to mental health evaluation and/or participate in mental health treatment program as directed by the U.S. Probation Office.

8. refrain from possessing a firearms, destructive device, or other dangerous weapons. Any weapons in residence shall be removed prior to the release of defendant;

9. refrain from excessive use of alcohol

10. refrain from unlawful possession of a narcotic drug or other controlled substances as defined by USC 802, unless prescribed by a license medical practicioner

11. shall consent to being placed on curfew: Defendant is restricted to his residence everyday from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. or as directed by the pretrial services office or supervising officer

12. defendant shall reside at 1850 Briarwyck Drive in Brownsville, Texas;

13. report within 72 hours to the U.S> Probation Officer any contact with law enforcement