Indictment in Weslaco Bribery Case Returned by Grand Jury, Commissioner Resigns
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.
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WESLACO – The indictment in a Weslaco bribery case has been returned by a grand jury.
An indictment containing 74 counts against four Rio Grande Valley alleges a bribery scheme involving more than $4 million.
The indictment was returned by a grand jury, which means prosecutors have enough evidence to bring the case to court.
Former Weslaco City Commissioner John Cuellar, his uncle former Hidalgo County Commissioner Arturo Cuellar, Rio Grande City attorney Daniel Garcia and Weslaco businessman Richard Quintanilla are all named in the indictment.
All are charged with bribery, bribery conspiracy, wire fraud and other charges relating to three construction companies and a $38 million water treatment plant project.
Weslaco City Commissioner Gerardo Tafolla and former Rio Grande City Municipal Judge Leonel Lopez pleaded guilty to bribery Monday.
KRGV’s Taylor Winkel has the details.
Watch the video above for more information.