Ex-SISD trustee Guillermo “Willie” Gandara Sr. pleads guilty, faces 3 1/2 years in prison [El Paso Times, Texas]
By Adriana M. Chavez, El Paso Times, Texas | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Gandara pleaded guilty to a charge of aiding and abetting wire fraud and deprivation of honest services as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors.
U.S. District Judge
Gandara's jury trial had
been scheduled to start with jury selection Monday morning. Instead, defense attorneys and federal prosecutors spent most of the morning apparently in discussions over the plea agreement.
Prosecutors had alleged that Gandara, 63, accepted a
During an
the board, including Garcia, then rejected the vote and approved another health provider.
Ten others charged in the Access indictment have already pleaded guilty to various charges of fraud or violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO. They are former Access spokesman
During Monday's plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney
Gandara was once
Federal prosecutors had alleged Gandara Sr. assisted Rodriguez's election campaign for
As part of the agreement, prosecutors claim, Rodriguez would vote to secure school district contracts with vendors of Gandara's choice, while Gandara would vote for contracts with vendors of Rodriguez's choice.
Kanof said at the time of the Access vote, then-
While the district was seeking health care providers, Kanof said, Gandara Sr. admonished one health care company for violating the process by emailing trustees.
"The defendant was aware of the rules," Kanof said during Monday's hearing.
Gandara became emotional during Monday's hearing when Montalvo insisted Gandara answer questions about whether Gandara Sr. agreed to participate in the Access scheme in order to personally benefit from it. Gandara Sr. initially denied the allegation. After a 20-minute break while Gandara Sr. consulted with his attorneys,
Gandara, who remains free on bond pending his
Apodaca, Schwartz, Garcia and Rodriguez are also scheduled to be sentenced on the same day as Gandara, along with "some others," Montalvo said during Gandara's plea hearing.
___
(c)2013 the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas)
Visit the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) at www.elpasotimes.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 658 |
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News