Willie Gandara Sr. corruption trial to begin today [El Paso Times, Texas]
By Adriana M. Chavez, El Paso Times, Texas | |
Gandara, 62, will go on trial beginning today in federal court on a charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. He was the only one of 11 defendants indicted with him who didn't plead guilty to public corruption charges.
During his trial, which is expected to last about six days, Gandara's attorneys,
The bribe was allegedly in exchange for Gandara Sr.'s vote in support for Access as SISD's health-insurance provider.
The 10 others who pleaded guilty to various charges of fraud or violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known
as RICO, were Schwartz, former Access President
Since the age of 50, Gandara Sr. has served as an elected official in school politics. In 2010, he was elected Socorro mayor shortly before his public corruption indictment. A year later, he became the first elected official in county history to be recalled by voters.
He has owned at least two successful Socorro businesses:
He was also credited for helping ease his sons into politics. Gandara's son Willie Jr., a former county commissioner who recently pleaded guilty to marijuana-trafficking charges, was Socorro's mayor from 2004 to 2006. Gary, another son, served with his father on the Socorro school board and is still a board member.
But federal prosecutors have painted a more negative portrait of Gandara Sr. In court documents, they've described him as a man driven by bribes and political favors in order to help himself and his family, especially Gandara Jr.
Defense attorney Spencer has attempted to block evidence from federal prosecutors alleging Gandara Sr., as an SISD trustee, accepted bribes as far back as 2004. He has not been criminally charged with any crimes not mentioned in the Access HealthSource indictment.
Spencer disputes the characterization, and said many of those expected to testify against Gandara Sr. have already pleaded guilty to public corruption charges.
"It's clear to me that the prosecutors are trying to try
In one instance, prosecutors have alleged two
Telles is also accused of giving Gandara Sr. a
According to a federal prosecutors' witness list, Telles is expected to testify against Gandara Sr.
In another court document filed by federal prosecutors last week, Rodriguez, who is also expected to testify against Gandara Sr., told prosecutors that Gandara Sr. recruited him to run for the SISD trustee position with the understanding that they would "vote together on issues of importance to vendors they introduced to each other."
Rodriguez introduced Gandara to Schwartz "with the understanding Gandara would support Access and assist in securing the 2005 SISD TPA (third-party administrator) contract for Access."
Prosecutors are also seeking to introduce evidence and testimony that in
According to prosecutors,
In one conversation, Gandara Sr. wanted to put one of Gandara Jr.'s campaign posters on land he thought was owned by C.F.
In another conversation, Gandara Sr. "assured Pena he tried to get Pena's company a contract to build a high school" after Pena promised to find out who owned land where Gandara Sr. could place his son's campaign signs.
Prosecutors claim the calls between Gandara Sr. and Pena "reflect identical conduct on the part of Gandara (Sr.) as the charged conduct herein," although neither Gandara Sr. or Pena have been charged with any wrongdoing associated with the phone calls.
Spencer said Gandara Sr. is "anxious" to get the trial behind him, and they're hopeful jurors will reach a fair verdict despite the extensive media coverage of the case.
"I am confident a fair jury is going to be selected," Spencer said. "I'm just hoping the jurors will render their decision on the facts in this case."
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Defense attorney for Willie Gandara Sr. disqualified from case; trial postponed [El Paso Times, Texas]
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