By David Hendricks
ValleyCentral.com
De La Cruz and Flores arranged for Edcouch to pay $6,000 to Pink Ape Media Consulting, a local advertising firm, according to the indictment against them. In exchange, Flores received $2,000 in kickbacks.
Mayor Virginio “Virgil” Gonzalez Jr. said the city of Edcouch is cooperating with the investigation.
De La Cruz and Flores remained in federal custody Thursday and couldn’t be reached for comment.
Edcouch hired De La Cruz in January 2019.
In his cover letter, De La Cruz said his experience in marketing could be an asset to Edcouch.
“As Chief Marketing Director for Pink Ape Media and Advertising I have developed the experience to deal with marketing budgets and have extensive knowledge in Market Research,” De La Cruz wrote. “My passion is working with communities and (sic) learn from their needs and apply that knowledge into an administration strategy.”
Pink Ape provided a wide array of advertising services, according to the company’s website, and dabbled in filmmaking.
Moreno, however, had a secret.
He wasn’t just a local advertising consultant. He also worked for the FBI, which considered him a “confidential informant.”
Details about Moreno’s work for the FBI became public in 2020, when he testified against former Brownsville school board Trustee Sylvia P. Atkinson during an eight-day trial.
The FBI approached Moreno in 2012 during an investigation that involved former Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos.
Moreno had no legal status in the United States. The FBI suggested he could avoid deportation by providing agents with information.
“We can help you not — not get deported, there’s a status called deferred action, if you help us,” Moreno said on Oct. 26, 2020, according to the trial transcript. “If you — if you give us information that — that can help in any investigation.”
Moreno couldn’t be reached for comment.
In February 2019 — less than a month after Edcouch hired De La Cruz — Pink Ape Media Consulting sent the city a bill for website development and design, according to documents released under the Texas Public Information Act.
De La Cruz during a swearing-in ceremony.
De La Cruz had a master’s degree in business administration, but he’d never worked for a city before.In his cover letter, De La Cruz said his experience in marketing could be an asset to Edcouch.
“As Chief Marketing Director for Pink Ape Media and Advertising I have developed the experience to deal with marketing budgets and have extensive knowledge in Market Research,” De La Cruz wrote. “My passion is working with communities and (sic) learn from their needs and apply that knowledge into an administration strategy.”
Edcouch councilman Rene Flores.
Rodrigo Moreno Fernandez, a graphic designer from Matamoros, created Pink Ape Media Consulting LLC in 2013, according to documents filed with the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.Pink Ape provided a wide array of advertising services, according to the company’s website, and dabbled in filmmaking.
Moreno, however, had a secret.
He wasn’t just a local advertising consultant. He also worked for the FBI, which considered him a “confidential informant.”
Details about Moreno’s work for the FBI became public in 2020, when he testified against former Brownsville school board Trustee Sylvia P. Atkinson during an eight-day trial.
The FBI approached Moreno in 2012 during an investigation that involved former Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos.
Moreno had no legal status in the United States. The FBI suggested he could avoid deportation by providing agents with information.
“We can help you not — not get deported, there’s a status called deferred action, if you help us,” Moreno said on Oct. 26, 2020, according to the trial transcript. “If you — if you give us information that — that can help in any investigation.”
Moreno couldn’t be reached for comment.
In February 2019 — less than a month after Edcouch hired De La Cruz — Pink Ape Media Consulting sent the city a bill for website development and design, according to documents released under the Texas Public Information Act.
Edcouch paid the company $7,500.
Pink Ape created a website for Edcouch, which featured a promotional video, photos of the Board of Aldermen and links to the city’s social media accounts.
On July 10, the company sent Edcouch an invoice for “Marketing Consulting.”
Pink Ape created a website for Edcouch, which featured a promotional video, photos of the Board of Aldermen and links to the city’s social media accounts.
On July 10, the company sent Edcouch an invoice for “Marketing Consulting.”
To read whole story, click on link: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/fbi-arrests-edcouch-city-manager-and-city-councilman/
21 comments:
How convenient, not a word about Silvia Atkinson.
Juan, Elsa, Edcouch and La villa all drink the same water and all are full of corruption does not surprise me one bit at all, wonder if there is more to this story than is being told, something to do with the gambling machines, makinitas? All these gambling sites popped up one day and then boom they were all closed down and disappeared. Things that make you go hummmm!
there's dirty feria to be made EVERYWHERE even in blogs, agua, pero hay muchos estules
money, money, money, thats all folks.
Small potatoes. get the Beeeeg Feeeesh!!!
I smell cheese around here. There's gotta be rats. As a matter of fact the whole valley smells like cheese. Puro rata!
Los gringos did a fine job coming down here and educating los mojados, Foist they steal all the lands and say it's normal for gringos to take land as it is needed and open banks, second they open colleges and teach los mojados about life: one plus one is one, then they rent all the stolen lands to los mojados, los mojados open tienditas and sell penny candy (donia conchita style) and depost all the centavos at los gringos banks and the gringos charge los mojados 75% of the total to deposit their centavitos. Than the cocos arrive and take over and continue with the ratismo, as is today....
That's the little pirates.
Big ones are Senators and Congressmen retired who now work as lobbyists.
Lots of doe floating around for consultant fees getting doors opened.
Edcouch Elsa cats are little fish.
Go out to the deeper waters.
SpaceX, new causeway etc.
Mexicans at play.
If all these stories are true——- Funny how Pink Ape Media is mentioned in several illegal and dubious schemes and court cases, any yet they are running business as usual . Is there more to this saga? Why report part of story and not ALL the story. Why is Pink Ape Media so special and teflon clean ? Smells kinda fishy No???
These Pink Ape people are criminals themselves. Criminals with FBI permission and protection.
Isn't the Pink Ape guy from Matamoros, Mexico? That would essplain eet, no????
Chále ese vato Moreno. Pínche estúle del otro lado. NVV.
Has anybody seen a pink RATA? RAT small traps are 2 for a dollar at walmart, another RATA organization...
But the big ones are 5 bucks each. PERO PORQUE??? They should be freeeeeeeeeee...
So Pink Ape/ Moreno gave money to Flores and De La Cruz as a way to thank them for giving him a job with the City of Edcouch. The City paid $13, 000 dollars to Moreno and Moreno gave back $2,000 dollars to his friends Flores and De la Cruz ($1,000 each) were arrested for $1,000 thousand dollars. Pink Ape/Moreno has too much power: he has sent three people to jail: Sylvia Atkinson, De la Cruz and Flores for fraud/illegal deals/little money.
So is this article hinting that Moreno fella as being an informant?? If thats the case , couldn’t these new cases being investigated be categorized as entrapment??? Just wondering. Any legal eagles out there?
not only a RAT but a ESTULE tambien, WHAT a great combination
Don't do business with Pink Ape. Te van a chingar.
he needs a teeth re-alignment, un chingaso en el osico...
now i kown why they picked the pink color MARICONES...
Like the kid saying goes "Sniches get stitches."
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