Federal Grand Jury Indicts Maverick County Commissoner Cesar Flores

In Eagle Pass, Texas, on Thursday, January 17, 2013, Maverick County Precinct Four Commissioner Cesar Flores, age 46 of Eagle Pass, Texas, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after a federal grand jury in Del Rio indicted him on January 16, 2013 in connection with an alleged bribery, kickback and bid-rigging scheme announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez.

The federal grand jury indictment, returned on Wednesday, January 16th, and unsealed on Thursday, January 17th, charges Flores with five counts of receiving bribes. The indictment alleges that in 2010 and 2011, Flores manipulated the bidding process to guarantee that contractors he chose would be awarded Maverick County construction contracts. Those contractors deposited the checks issued to them by Maverick County and then made cash payments to Flores. According to the indictment, the private contractors submitted inflated bids to Maverick County in order for there to be sufficient funds to perform the construction work, make a profit, and pay the bribe to Flores.

Upon conviction, Flores faces up to ten years in federal prison for each bribery charge. Flores appeared before Magistrate Judge Victor Roberto Garcia this morning in Del Rio for his Initial Appearance. Bond for Flores was set at $40,000.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Individuals who have first-hand information about corruption, fraud, or bribery related to Maverick County are urged to contact the FBI at (210) 225-6741.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael Galdo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.