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Former governor indicted Tamaulipas official allegedly took bribes from drug traffickers By GUILLERMO CONTRERAS AND JASON BUCH SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Federal prosecutors in Texas have charged another former governor of Tamaulipas with money laundering, the second leader of the violent border state to face allegations that he used bribes from drug traffickers to buy property in the U.S. Eugenio Hernández Flores, 57, who was governor of Tamaulipas
from 2005 to 2010, is named in an indictment unsealed Friday. He is charged with his brother-inlaw, Óscar Gómez Guerra, 43, HERNANDEZ with conspiracy to engage in a money-shifting scheme aimed at hiding bribes paid by cartel figures who sought
to operate freely in Tamaulipas. The indictment, handed down in secret last month, charges both with conspiring to launder money, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. Arrest warrants have been issued for both suspects, who are fugitives. In statements to the
media, Hernández has denied any wrongdoing. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of three properties in McAllen and one in Austin with a total value of nearly $5 million. The indictment also seeks a judgment of $30 million against Hernández and his brother-inlaw. The San Antonio ExpressNews first reported last year that Hernández was under the micro-
scope after his name turned up in money laundering investigations that have stretched from Central to South Texas. In particular, he was singled out by prosecutors in the case of Mexican businessman Guillermo Flores Cordero, who lived part-time in San Antonio until his arrest in mid 2013. Flores pleaded guilty in December 2013 to running a money
See GOVERNOR PAGE 12A
BASSMASTERS
ZAPATA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
TWO MEN ARRESTED Laredo Morning Times/file
Professional fisherman Keith Combs displays his bass catches during the 2010 FLW Outdoors tournament at Falcon Lake.
Courtesy photo | Zapata County Sheriff’s Office
These photos show the various items recovered by authorities in the burglary case in which Herrera and Rivera are suspects.
Falcon Lake falls in bass rankings In 100 Best Bass Lakes List, Zapata lake slips to No. 42 spot THE ZAPATA TIMES
Suspected of several burglaries around county By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Two men suspected of carrying out several burglaries around Zapata County have been arrested, authorities said. The Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office announced the arrest Thursday evening via their Facebook page. Identified
as the suspects, Juan Herrera and Fernando Rivera are facing several burglary charges. HERRERA Sheriff ’s officials said the men committed the alleged crimes in different areas around the county. Herre-
ra and Rivera allegedly stole musical instruments and equipment, furniture, assorted RIVERA power tools, among other accessories. Authorities said they recovered several of the items stolen. More people
are pending arrest as the case progresses, according to the Sheriff ’s Office. People with information on these burglaries or other crimes in Zapata County are asked to call 956-765-9960 or Crime-Stoppers at 956-765-TIPS (8477). (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Falcon Lake slipped in the rankings this year in Bassmaster’s annual 100 Best Bass Lakes List. In its inaugural rankings in 2012, Falcon Lake was ranked No. 1. This year it fell to No. 42. “Just about any other lake in the country would be proud to be ranked 42nd, but this fishery isn’t one of them,” Bassmasters said on its website. “In 2012, Falcon was the best lake in the country, bar none. It slipped to seventh in 2013, and then to 12th last year. Now, it seems it
is a shadow of its former self. Still, a Feb. 21 Bass Champs event here took 26.12 to win. But, only 15 pounds was needed to be in the Top 16.” Toldeo Bend Reservoir earned the top spot in the 2015 list. “The rankings this year are more reliable than ever,” said Bassmaster Magazine Editor James Hall. “The past three years, we released the list in May. However, we waited to include it in our July/August issue so we could collect catch-rate data from the
See FALCON PAGE 12A
TEXAS
450K immigration cases backlogged By JULIÁN AGUILAR TEXAS TRIBUNE
In less than two years, the number of Texas-based immigration cases stuck in federal courts has swelled by about 60 percent. Through April of this year, about 77,000 immigration cases in Texas were still meandering through the system. That’s one spot below California’s 89,300, and an in-
crease of 58 percent since October 2013, according to data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Now, a Texas lawmaker says he wants to make a dent in the problem by securing money for 55 new immigration judges and support staff. There are about 260 immigration judges in the nation, including 31 in Texas, according to the U.S. Depart-
ment of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. “We got the (funding request) out of committee, we have it out of the House and now it’s over on the Senate side,” U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said. “People always talk about more Border Patrol and more Border Patrol. But as you get more Border Patrol, you get a lot more cases. We’re about 450,000 cases back-
logged.” The Obama administration continues to remove undocumented immigrants at record levels. But a large number of immigrants whose court cases are lingering might be allowed to stay in the country legally if a judge rules in their favor. Most deportation cases are resolved quickly, said Austin-based immigration
See IMMIGRATION PAGE 12A
Photo by Bob Daemmrich | Texas Tribune
Through April of this year, about 77,000 immigration cases in Texas were still meandering through the system.