March 12th is key date for Maverick County-Gate defendants

By: Jose G. Landa
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013

March 12, 2013 is a key date for many of the Maverick County-Gate defendants indicted and arrested in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Texas Department of Public Safety joint investigation into corruption and bribery within the County of Maverick, Texas. Most of the defendants who have not plead guilty yet have a Docket Call and Rearraignment Court hearing before United States District Judge Alia Moses of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, on Tuesday, March 12th.

A Docket Call and Rearraignment Court hearing is to announce to the trial judge if the defendant wishes to plead guilty or request a jury trial of the pending criminal charges. If there is outstanding discovery and/or legal issues pending, a defendant may request a continuance of his or her case to another future date.

All three Maverick County Commissioners indicted and arrested, Rudy Heredia, Eliaz Maldonado, and Cesar Flores, in separate and individual cases by the joint FBI and Texas DPS investigation are scheduled to have a Docket Call and Rearraignment Court hearing on March 12th.

Jose Luis Aguilar, a co-defendant of Commissioner Rudy Heredia in a money laundering federal case, is also scheduled to have a Docket Call and Rearraignment Court hearing on March 12th.

David Gelacio, a co-defendant of Commissioner Rudy Heredia and Jose Luis Aguilar in a money laundering federal case, plead guilty on January 24, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.

Defendant, Juan Carlos Moncada, indicted for fraud by wire, radio, or television and theft, also has a Docket Call and Rearraignment Court hearing on March 12th.

Defendant, Jaime Flores, a co-defendant of Juan Carlos Moncada, plead guilty on January 24, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.

Defendant, Joe M. Rodriguez, a co-defendant of Juan Carlos Moncada, plead guilty on November 29, 2012, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 12, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.

Defendant, Javier Gonzalez, indicted and arrested for fraud by wire, radio, or television and bribery, is also scheduled to have a Docket Call and Rearraignment Court hearing on March 12th.

Defendant, Eduardo De La Garza, indicted and arrested for paying a bribe to an agent of an organization receiving federal funds, is also scheduled to have a Docket Call and Rearraignment Court hearing on March 12th.

Defendant, Alejandra Garcia, indicted and arrested for bribery involving federal programs, plead guilty on January 24, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a Court-at-Law. An indictment is merely allegations of wrongdoing and not evidence of guilt. All defendants have a constitutional right to plead not guilty and request a jury trial.