Former Maverick County Justice of the Peace Cesar Iracheta Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for “Pay-to-Play” Bribery Scheme Involving County Contracts

In Eagle Pass, Texas, on February 20, 2015, FBI agents arrested 56-year-old former Maverick County Justice of the Peace and Eagle Pass businessman Cesar Iracheta on federal bribery charges in a “pay-to-play” scheme involving County construction contracts announced Acting United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr., and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

A federal grand jury indictment, returned on Wednesday and unsealed today, charges Iracheta with two counts of paying bribes. The indictment alleges that in 2010, Iracheta, doing business as C&A Construction, paid a bribe to a Maverick County commissioner in order to secure two Precinct 2 County construction contracts worth approximately $49,000. The indictment also alleges that in 2011, Iracheta paid a bribe to another Maverick County commissioner in order to secure a Precinct One County construction contract worth $22,500.

According to the indictment, Iracheta submitted inflated bids to Maverick County in order for there to be sufficient funds to perform the construction work, make a profit, and pay bribes to the County commissioners.

Upon conviction, Iracheta faces up to ten years in federal prison for each bribery charge.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigative Division together with the Customs and Border Protection Office of Internal Affairs. 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 Katherine Griffin and Bryan Reeves are 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.