Former Crystal City Manager William James Jonas, III Sentencing Hearing Rescheduled to May 16th

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2018

Former City of Crystal City, Texas City Manager William James Jonas, III’s sentencing hearing held on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, before United States District Judge Alia Moses for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, in Del Rio, Texas addressed sentencing hearing motions filed by Jonas and a final sentencing hearing was rescheduled to Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 10 A.M. with Judge Moses.

Jonas, age 54, was convicted by a federal jury on June 22, 2017 after a lengthy trial on one count of conspiracy to commit bribery involving federal programs, three substantive counts of bribery involving federal programs, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft of honest services, and five substantive counts of wire fraud and theft of honest services.

In addition to Jonas, former Crystal City Mayor Ricardo Lopez was convicted in the same federal jury trial of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery involving federal programs, one substantive count of bribery involving federal programs, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft of honest services, and four substantive counts of wire fraud and theft of honest services.

Jonas and Lopez each face up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy to commit bribery charge, up to 10 years in federal prison for each bribery related charge, and up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud related charge. 

Jonas remains detained and in custody of the U.S. Marshals pending his sentencing hearing.