Eagle Pass Contractor Saul Lombrana indicted by federal grand jury of paying a bribe to a Maverick County employee

By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Eagle Pass contractor, Saul Lombrana doing business as Fiesta Contractors, was arrested during the early morning hours on Thursday, November 21, 2013, in Eagle Pass, Texas by federal agents including U.S. Marshal’s Service and FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers arising from a federal grand jury criminal indictment filed on Wednesday, November 20th, in the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, in Del Rio, Texas.

The federal criminal indictment alleges that “Saul Lombrana was the owner and operator of Fiesta Contractors, a construction company based in Eagle Pass, Texas….Maverick County accepted bids to construct 155 linear feet of concrete drain swell on Rafael Street in Precinct 1 in March 2011. Saul Lombrana submitted paperwork requesting a total of $14,500 to complete the project–$7,250 to commence work and the remaining $7,250 upon completion. On March 21, 2011 Saul Lombrana was selected by Maverick County to complete that project for that amount. Maverick County check number 868 was issued on March 22, 2011 to ‘Fiesta Contr. Saul Lombrana’ for $7,250. That check was redeemed by Saul Lombrana. Saul Lombrana submitted an invoice to Maverick County requesting full payment for the project (the remaining $7,250) on March 24, 2011. Maverick County check number 883 was issued on April 6, 2011 to ‘Fiesta Contr. Saul Lombrana’ for $7,250. That check was redeemed by Saul Lombrana. Saul Lombrana never constructed 155 linear feet of concrete drain swell on Rafael Street in Precinct 1. Saul Lombrana in fact paid money to Maverick County Employee 1 in return for being awarded the contract.”

The federal criminal indictment charges “Saul Lombrana did corruptly give, offer, and agree to give a thing of value to Maverick County Employee 1, who was an agent or employee of Maverick County, intending to influence and reward Maverick County Employee 1 in connection with a transaction and series of transactions of Maverick County involving $5,000 or more, in violation of 18 United States Code Section 666(a)(2).”

Saul Lombrana if convicted faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment on all counts.

Saul Lombrana appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Victor Roberto Garcia for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, on Thursday, November 21st, for his initial Court Appearance and was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond.

An accused defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a Court-at-Law. An indictment is only allegations of wrongdoing by an individual or entity. An accused defendant has the constitutional right to plead not guilty and have a trial by a jury of his peers.

Indictment:
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