Former Coahuila Treasurer Hector Javier Villarreal self-surrenders to Feds

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Former Coahuila Treasurer Hector Javier Villarreal Hernandez self-surrendered to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at an El Paso, Texas international bridge on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, to face a federal grand jury indictment of one count in San Antonio, Texas alleging conspiracy of money laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking, bribery of a public official, and embezzlement of public funds.

Villarreal-Hernandez was quickly detained and wisked away by federal agents from El Paso and transported to San Antonio to appear for his initial court proceeding before United States Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio, Division, on Thursday, February 13th.

Villarreal-Hernandez is represented by Houston, Texas criminal defense attorney Michael J. Wynne.  Wynne stated that his client, Villarreal-Hernandez, intends to fight the federal charges against him of money laundering.

Former Coahuila Treasurer Villarreal-Hernandez also has pending criminal charges against him in Mexico for falsifying loan documents of the State of Coahuila for over $325 million as well as another federal grand jury indictment in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, together with former Interim Coahuila Governor Jorge Juan Torres-Lopez, for money laundering tens of millions dollars into the United States and Bermuda from Mexico.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston, Texas reported that the Corpus Christi federal criminal case against Villarreal-Hernandez will be abated or placed on hold until the San Antonio federal criminal case is completed.

Villarreal-Hernandez will have preliminary and detention hearings within the week unless he waives these hearings.  His self-surrender to U.S. federal agents in El Paso was a big surprise as he was being pursued by both Mexican and American agents on outstanding warrants of arrest.

Villarreal-Hernandez served as the Treasurer of the State of Coahuila during 2008-2011 under former Governor Humberto Moreira-Valdes’ administration.  Former Coahuila Governor Humberto Moreira-Valdes resigned to accept the post of National President of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) in Mexico City, Mexico.  Mexcio’s current President Enrique Pena-Nieto is a member of the PRI party.  Former Coahuila Governor Humberto Moreira-Valdes resigned as National President of the PRI political party amidst allegations of his possible involvement in the loan fraud in Coahuila, which he denies any wrongdoing, and fled to Spain to earn a Master’s degree in Education.

Villarreal-Hernandez faces up to 20 years imprisonment if convicted of money laundering in the San Antonio federal criminal case and a fine of up to $500,000 plus supervised release, restitution, forfeiture, and costs.  His arrest and trial may shed light on what really happened in the State of Coahuila during former Governor Humberto Moriera-Valdes’ administration, which left the State of Coahuila with a debt of over $3 Billion.