By Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat
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Colorado Jr. is the son of Francisco Colorado Cessa (at left). The elder Colorado was convicted of money laundering charges, for his role in channeling Zetas funds through the U.S. Quarter horse racing and breeding business.
They were facing a 250,000 fine and up to Five years in jail, but the case ended in a plea agreement.
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Sentencing was handed down to two men, with ties to Los Zetas, for attempting to bribe the federal judge presiding over the Los Zetas money laundering trial. The men were sentenced to a year and a day in prison.
Ramon Segura Flores, and Francisco Colorado Jr. who were arrested in September 5, 2013, appeared before the court and as a part of a plea agreement accepted full responsibility for their actions. U.S. Judge D. Walter accepted the terms of their plea agreements.
Deportation proceedings to Mexico will be next for the pair.
Segura vowed to the court to never return.
“I declare myself guilty of the charge because I am guilty,” he said in Spanish. “I just want to return home to support my family and be a good father, husband and son.”
Said Jr.; “I am ashamed of how I insulted the law, this is going to affect the rest of my life,”.
The bribery case began its investigation in August 2013, during the money laundering trial and culminated during the penalty phase with the arrest of the two men.
An informant tipped off authorities about the planned bribe of over 1 million dollars, to be paid to the presiding Judge Sam Sparks in exchange for Colorado Sr. receiving a light sentences. The judge was unaware of the investigation and sting.
Calls were monitored at the jail between son Colorado Cessa Jr. and his father and later between Segura and Cessa. Agents reviewed the recorded conversations at Bastrop County Jail between Colorado Cessa and Colorado Cessa Jr and Segura in which they discussed an agreement and plan to bribe United States District Court Judge within the Western District of Texas who is an officer and employee of the United States.
Before his arrest, Segura had just testified in behalf of Colorado Sr.. During Segura’s testimony US attorney Michelle Fernald asked him if he ever participated in criminal activity with Cessa, he answered emphatically "no".
Fernald reminded Segura he was under oath, he acknowledged that and again answered no.
Knowing Segura was about to be arrested for the bribery attempt, Fernald could not hold back a smile as she turned away.
Lead Federal Prosecutor Robert Pitman said, "From the beginning in the case we indicated it was all about keeping corruption from Mexican drug cartels out of the United States and this is just another example of what cartels believe they can get away with and an example that we will do whatever to not let them and will do whatever we can to stop them."
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| "Mamito" gave compelling testimony |
Colorado Jr. and Segura each pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy to bribe a public official. Colorado Cessa, Colorado Jr.’s father and Segura’s former business partner, is serving 20 years in prison on money laundering conspiracy charges.
He also pleaded guilty in March to charges in the bribery case and is expected to be sentenced to additional time in October.
Attorneys for the men said their clients had already served their time and will be deported.
To read more on the bribery case link here
and for more information of the bribery case and Zetas money laundering trial link here and for our complete coverage of all the weeks of trial, which includes testimony and information from and about Zetas type Zetas Money Laundering Trial in the search bar.
To read more on the bribery case link here
and for more information of the bribery case and Zetas money laundering trial link here and for our complete coverage of all the weeks of trial, which includes testimony and information from and about Zetas type Zetas Money Laundering Trial in the search bar.