Tagged News

• Trump’s pardon of Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar leaves local Republicans surprised and disappointed

  December 15, 2025 4:43 PM

  Zapata County Republican Chairwoman Jennifer Thatcher was shocked when she learned earlier this month that President Donald Trump had pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar, freeing him from legal peril for the federal corruption charges he faced. By pardoning Cuellar, she said, Trump removed the Laredo Democrats’ main vulnerability, which Republicans... more »

• After Trump pardon, Rep. Henry Cuellar restored to homeland security funding post

  December 11, 2025 2:24 PM

  Days after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar won back his position as the top Democratic member on a powerful House panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The Laredo Democrat forfeited his role as chair of the Appropriations subcommittee on... more »

• Sentencing set for former Edinburg councilman convicted of bribery Play Video

  August 13, 2025 3:27 PM

  A former city of Edinburg councilman is scheduled for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge. Jorge "Coach" Salinas will be sentenced on November 5 and will remain out on a $50,000 bond. RELATED STORY: Former Edinburg councilman to plead guilty to federal bribery charge... more »

• Former Edinburg councilman to plead guilty to federal bribery charge

  August 10, 2025 5:07 PM

  A former councilman with the city of Edinburg is set to plead guilty to a federal bribery charge, court records show. Jorge “Coach” Salinas was indicted in February 2024 on charges of bribery and racketeering. The indictment against Salinas accuses him of accepting bribes from June 2019 and... more »

• Feds charge 3 current or former Louisiana police chiefs in an alleged visa fraud scheme

  July 16, 2025 12:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Federal authorities said Wednesday that they charged three current or former Louisiana police chiefs with taking hundreds of bribes in exchange for filing false police reports that would allow noncitizens to seek a visa that allows certain crime victims to stay in the U.S. ... more »

• Former Edcouch city manager sentenced to a year in prison on bribery charge Play Video

  July 10, 2025 10:20 AM

  Former Edcouch City Manager Victor Hugo De La Cruz was sentenced Thursday to 12 months in prison in connection with a bribery investigation. De La Cruz will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. De La Cruz pleaded guilty in May to a charge of... more »

• Former Edcouch mayor pro-tem sentenced on federal bribery charge Play Video

  June 3, 2025 11:54 AM

  Former Edcouch Mayor Pro-Tem Rene Adan Flores was sentenced Tuesday to 12 months and one day on a federal corruption charge, court records show. Flores was arrested in September 2024 alongside former Edcouch City Manager Victor Hugo De La Cruz in connection with a federal bribery investigation, according to... more »

• Judge accuses the Trump administration of 'manufacturing' chaos in migrant deportation case

  May 27, 2025 2:36 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to halt an order allowing migrants to challenge their deportations to South Sudan, an appeal that came hours after the judge suggested the Trump administration was "manufacturing" chaos and said he hoped that "reason can get the better... more »

• Trump announces pardon for former Virginia sheriff convicted of federal bribery charges

  May 27, 2025 2:31 PM

  Originally Published: 26 MAY 25 17:30 ET By Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump announced he is granting a “full and unconditional pardon” to a former Virginia sheriff, Scott Jenkins, who was convicted of conspiracy, honest services fraud and bribery. “This Sheriff is a victim... more »

• Former vice chairwoman of La Joya Housing Authority board pleads not guilty Play Video

  January 23, 2020 10:06 PM

  McAllen — The former vice chairwoman of the La Joya Housing Authority board pleaded not guilty Thursday to bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sylvia Garces Valdez, 39, of La Joya pleaded not guilty on Thursday morning, according to federal court records. Garces Valdez, who served as... more »

• 3 Former Valley Jail Employees Plead Not Guilty to Bribery Charges Play Video

  November 27, 2019 4:50 PM

  MCALLEN – Three former East Hidalgo County Detention Center employees facing federal charges appeared before a judge Wednesday. Jason Catalan, Erasmo Loya and Veronica Ortega are all accused of bribery. Catalan is accused of smuggling food contraband to inmates during the first six months of this year. ... more »

• 4 Accused in Weslaco Bribery Case to Go to Trial Play Video

  October 11, 2019 5:16 PM

  WESLACO – The deadline for four men accused in a Weslaco bribery scheme to make the decision to take a plea deal was Friday. Attorneys for Arturo Cuellar, Daniel Garcia and Richard Quintanilla say their clients are innocent and will go to trial. John Cuellar took a plea... more »

• Clients of Valley Lawyer Sentenced to Prison Worried over Lost Case Files Play Video

  October 10, 2019 6:21 PM

  EDINBURG – Concerns and questions from client of a convicted Rio Grande Valley attorney. Noe Perez was convicted of bribery after testifying against Former Judge Rudy Delgado and sentenced to prison. Clients of Perez with cases still active are worries their personal information is lost in his files.... more »

• Case Against La Joya Housing Authority Vice Chair Moves Forward Play Video

  October 8, 2019 10:55 AM

  MCALLEN – The case against a La Joya housing authority official is moving forward. Jury selection is set for Dec. 3 in the case against Sylvia Valdez. She's accused of giving more than $5,000 to someone in hopes of securing a public relations contract. For more information... more »

• Former Weslaco Commissioner Pleads Guilty to Lying Under Oath Play Video

  October 7, 2019 9:24 PM

  WESALCO – A former Weslaco city commissioner pleading guilty to lying under oath Monday. After denying accepting a bribe during grand jury proceedings last year, David Fox later admitted he did. At least $2,000 was allegedly paid to influence his vote on Weslaco water and wastewater treatment plant... more »

• Sentencing Set for Former Hidalgo Co. Judge Play Video

  September 23, 2019 6:05 PM

  EDINBURG - The sentencing for former Hidalgo County District Judge Rodolfo "Rudy" Delgado is set for Wednesday. A jury found Delgado guilty of bribery in July. He remains free on bond pending his sentencing. Two months ago Delgado requested a new trial. No word on when... more »

• Valley Attorney Facing Bribery Charges Pleads Not Guilty Play Video

  July 25, 2019 11:30 AM

  MCALLEN – A Rio Grande Valley attorney facing bribery charges was granted bond Thursday. Roel Alanis is facing six counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. He pleaded not guilty before the federal judge in Brownsville Thursday morning. According to his indictment, the... more »

• Former Hidalgo Co. District Judge Found Guilty on All Counts Play Video

  July 10, 2019 5:39 PM

  UPDATE (7/11): The jury in the trial of a former Hidalgo County district judge has returned a guilty verdict. Former Judge Rodolfo "Rudy" Delgado was found guilty on eight counts of bribery, Travel Act violations, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. ----------- MCALLEN – A court reporter,... more »

• Day Three: Former District Judge Delgado's Trial Play Video

  July 9, 2019 4:08 PM

  MCALLEN – An envelope stuffed with $5,500 in cash was passed between jurors Tuesday morning. They held the plastic-wrapped envelope probing its thickness between their thumbs and index fingers. Indicted Judge Rodolfo Delgado closely watched the jury with elbows on the table, hands clasped and twiddling his thumbs.... more »

• Day Two: Former Judge Rudy Delgado's Trial Play Video

  July 8, 2019 10:53 PM

  MCALLEN – “Lawyers, we talk,” explained State Representative Robert Guerra as he described how rumors circulating among the legal community led to then Judge Rodolfo Delgado prematurely discovering an ongoing federal investigation against him in January 2018. Just as soon as the courts closed on Thursday evening of Jan.... more »

• Former Valley Detention Center Employees Charged with Bribery Play Video

  May 29, 2019 6:36 PM

  RAYMONDVILLE – The information of immigrants in federal detention was sold for profit by former employees, now charged with this crime. According to a federal indictment, three people working in Raymondville are currently charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery. Benito Barrientez, of Lyford, worked at the... more »

• Special Election to Take Place after City Commissioner Resigns Play Video

  April 23, 2019 10:48 PM

  WESLACO – A local city commissioner has resigned amid a bribery investigation, which leaves a vacant seat for the position. Jerry Tafolla, Weslaco city commissioner, pleaded guilty to bribery in connection to a $38 million contract to rehabilitate the city’s water treatment facilities. A special election to fill... more »

• Indictment in Weslaco Bribery Case Returned by Grand Jury, Commissioner Resigns Play Video

  April 11, 2019 10:12 PM

  UPDATE (9:35 p.m.): An elected official who pleaded guilty for his role plans to give up his seat. City Commissioner Gerardo Tafolla gave the city a letter of resignation. According to an agenda, commissioners will discuss it Tuesday during their regular meeting. ----- WESLACO – The... more »

• Newly Appointed City Judge to Spark Change in Community Play Video

  April 4, 2019 4:13 PM

  RIO GRANDE CITY - A new municipal judge has been appointed in Rio Grande City. Balicio Villareal is replacing former judge Leonel Lopez Jr., who pled guilty to federal bribery charges in late-March. CHANNEL 5 NEWS asked judge Villareal what this change will mean for the community. ... more »

• Weslaco Businessman Pleads Not Guilty in Federal Court Play Video

  April 1, 2019 5:32 PM

  WESLACO – A local businessman pled not guilty in federal court Monday. A federal judge explained the evidence against Ricardo Quintanilla is significant. Quintanilla is facing 18 criminal charges. He allegedly bribed a Weslaco city commissioner over construction contracts for the Waste Water Treatment project. He... more »

• 2nd Arrest Made in Alleged Bribery Scheme Involving Weslaco City Commissioner Play Video

  March 29, 2019 12:07 PM

  WESLACO – Authorities arrested a second person in a bribery scheme that has already brought down a former Rio Grande Valley judge. Richard Quintanilla, 52, is accused of bribing a Weslaco city commissioner in exchange for favorable actions in the construction and rehabilitation of the city’s water treatment facilities.... more »

• Former Valley Border Patrol Agent Charged for Accepting Bribes Play Video

  March 8, 2019 4:03 PM

  LA FERIA – A former Border Patrol agent from La Feria will spend more than nine years behind bars. Robert Hall, 45, was charged after accepting bribes in return for helping to smuggle illegal drugs into the U.S. Hall admitted to providing information on Customs and Border Protection... more »

• Valley Man Starts GoFundMe Account for Federal Employees Impacted by Govt Shutdown Play Video

  January 22, 2019 5:00 PM

  WESLACO – Some federal workers are taking matters into their own hands during the partial government shutdown. A Rio Grande Valley man says he took it upon himself to start a gofundme account to raise money for his neighbor and others in similar situations. A federal law warns... more »

• Former City of Hidalgo Employee Charged with Bribery Play Video

  August 30, 2018 6:11 PM

  HIDALGO – A former city of Hidalgo employee is behind bars facing bribery charges for a second time . Francisco Martinez, who resigned from his position as building inspector early June, was arrested this week. Police allege the incident happened last year when a man claimed Martinez told him about... more »