BROWNSVILLE, RGV – Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda, Jr., issued this statement at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 7, 2016:
“This afternoon I was informed that the entire tax office where the search warrant was executed yesterday at the Courthouse Administration Building in Brownsville needed to remain closed.
“This means that all operations, including property tax collections, in the Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector’s offices at the Courthouse are closed until further notice.
“At this time I am respectfully asking or those citizens needing to pay taxes to visit anyone of our several locations throughout Cameron County or go online to pay if possible. As more information becomes available we will communicate with the taxpayers and residents of Cameron County.
“In addition, as was noted yesterday, anyone needing to take care of business with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles can do so at area HEB’s countywide; A.V. Lopez Supermarket in Brownsville (International Blvd.) and AMEX Check Cashing in Brownsville (Price Road).
“We will continue to keep the public informed and make sure the continuity of service and operations of the tax office are safeguarded to the maximum extent possible.”
Original story:
BROWNSVILLE, RGV – Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda, Jr., says he is likely to put an item on the agenda for the next Commissioners Court meeting dealing with the Tax Assessor-Collector’s office.
Sepulveda was interviewed by News Talk 710 KURV the day after Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre was arrested and charged with bribery, organized crime and official oppression.
“Our next meeting is Tuesday. More than likely I’ll have an item on the agenda in case we need to take any type of action as it relates to the tax office,” Sepulveda told KURV’s Morning News program.
Yzaguirre’s arrest followed a raid by federal and state officials on the Cameron County administration building at the Cameron County Courthouse in Brownsville on Wednesday morning. Warrants were also executed for two private homes and four businesses.
At a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Cameron County District Luis Saenz said an investigation of the Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office started two years ago. He said the investigation involves the Texas Department of Public Safety-Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Rangers, U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, DEA, Homeland Security and Brownsville Police.
In addition to Yzaguirre, three others were arrested and charged. Here is the list:
Tony Yzaguirre
•Four counts of bribery, a second degree felony
•Engaging in organized criminal activity, a first degree felony
•Official oppression, a class A misdemeanor
Pedro Garza (a Cameron County tax investigator)
•One count of bribery, a second degree felony
•Engaging in organized criminal activity, a first degree felony
•Official oppression, a class A misdemeanor
Omar Sanchez-Paz (a Cameron County dealer/notary supervisor)
•One count of engaging in organized criminal activity, a first degree felony
•Abuse of official capacity, a class A misdemeanor
Jose Mireles (a Cameron County chief lieutenant)
•One count of bribery, a second degree felony
•Engaging in criminal activity, a first degree felony
•Official oppression, a class A misdemeanor
In his interview with KURV, Sepulveda said he was not aware of the investigation. “It happened real quick yesterday. Once everything started developing the offices had to be closed down. We move forwarded. We will sort through what needs to be sorted.”
Sepulveda said the investigation has not impacted property tax collections. However, it has interrupted services for license plates, titles and vehicle registrations. Sepulveda said it will likely take a couple of days to get the license plates, titles and vehicle registrations computer systems up and running following the raid.
Sepulveda said the county’s legal team moved swiftly once the raid occurred.
“One of the first things we did was sit down with our legal team and make sure that his (Yzaguirre’s) bond has not been revoked. That his bond remains in full force and effect. And that is the case. That is why we are able to continue to collect taxes and hopefully once we have got our system running with the state for motor vehicles we will continue to provide that service under his bond. Unless he resigns or is found guilty after going through the judicial process then his bond will be revoked but as of now his bond is in full force and effect.”
Asked how quickly Yzaguirre could be back at work, Sepulveda said: “I am not sure how soon he can go back to the office. I am sure the judge that handled that gave him a certain amount of hours. That is strictly his decision, whether he wants to have any contact with his staff or whether he wants to return back to work. We will just have to wait and see what he decides to do.”
Sepulveda said the act that the raid focused on the license plates, titles and vehicle registrations division could be an indication of what the investigation is about.
Sepulveda added: “My understanding after meeting with the county’s legal team is that unless he (Yzaguirre) resigns or is found guilty after going through the judicial process and convicted that bond is good. Now, there might be other methods that either a member of the public or someone from the District Attorney’s office wants to remove him from office, then we will have to look at that at that time. But for now, unless he resigns that bond is good.”
