Maverick Countian Alejandro Wheeler indicted by federal grand jury on two counts
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Maverick Countian Alejandro Wheeler, owner and operator of TVAW, a media outlet based in Eagle Pass, Texas was indicted on two federal criminal counts by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, in the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, in Del Rio, Texas. As of press time, Alejandro Wheeler has not yet been arrested by federal agents and Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers who raided his home in Eagle Pass, Texas early in the morning of Thursday, November 21st, but did not find or locate him there.
The federal criminal indictment alleges that “Alejandro Wheeler was friends with Maverick County Commissioners, the members of the Maverick County government responsible for selecting contractors. Two contractors were selected to win County contracts in return for paying money to the Commissioners. Alejandro Wheeler received payment for his assistance in causing the contractors to be awarded County contracts. Alejandro Wheeler did not do any construction work for receiving the funds from the contractors. Alejandro Wheeler concocted this scheme in connection with Maverick County Commissioner A and Maverick County Commissioner B. Alejandro Wheeler also utilized his media outlet to give discounted campaign media time to County Commissioners in return for receiving the County funds.”
The federal criminal indictment charges Alejandro Wheeler “did corruptly give, offer, and agree to give a thing of value to Maverick County Commissioner A and Maverick County Commissioner B, and did aid, abet, and induce another to corruptly give, offer, and agree to give a thing of value to Maverick County Commissioner A and Maverick County Commissioner B, who were agents or employees of Maverick County, intending to influence and reward Maverick County Commissioner A and Maverick County Commissioner B 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).”
The federal criminal indictment further charges Alejandro Wheeler “aided, abetted, or induced agents of Maverick County, Texas, said County receiving in both the one year period beginning on January 1, 2010 and in the one year period beginning on January 1, 2011, benefits in excess of $10,000 under Department of Homeland Security Grant Program Operation Stonegarden, to embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud, without authority knowingly convert to the use of a person not the rightful owner, and intentionally misapply property, worth at least $5,000 and owned by, under the care of, and under the custody of Maverick County, Texas, in violation of 18 United States Code Section 666(a)(1)(A) and 2.”
Alejandro Wheeler if convicted faces up to 10 years imprisonment on each count, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment on all counts.
An accused defendant is presumed to be 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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