By Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat
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The former treasurer of Coahuila, during the Humberto Moreira governorship, Javier Villareal Hernandez, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy of money laundering in federal court in San Antonio, Texas.
He continued as treasurer for a short while in 2011, during the interim governorship of Governor Jorge Juan Torres-Lopez, who took the helm when Moreira resigned to become the national PRI president.
He continued as treasurer for a short while in 2011, during the interim governorship of Governor Jorge Juan Torres-Lopez, who took the helm when Moreira resigned to become the national PRI president.
Torres was charged with money laundering and other financial crimes in the state of Texas
Among other Coahuila charges, Villareal is accused of being involved in falsifying documents to obtain loans on behalf of the State. Villareal, and the Moreira administration racked up a debt from around 200 million to 35 billion dollars in just five years.
From 2008, while serving as Coahuila's treasurer, Villarreal took out loans worth $246 million dollars in the state's name. He also is charged with receiving kickbacks for state contracts, and from a Coahuila coal mining company, a front for Los Zetas cartel. He funneled the funds into extensive Texas real estate holdings, and bank accounts in Bermuda and Texas, in the names of family members.
In October 2011, Villarreal Hernandez was arrested and admitted to a prison in the state capital of Saltillo proceeding an arrest warrant issued by the Second Judge of in Criminal Matters of the judicial district of Saltillo, for his alleged responsibility in the commission of offenses Using False Documents and to Fraud.
However, after posting bond, he fled, and was a fugitive in Mexico and Texas. In February
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2012 he was arrested in Tyler Texas, with $67,000 dollars in cash but he was released after being taken to a U.S. Homeland Security facility, then he was on the run again.
Ultimately,he gave himself up in El Paso Texas in February, 2014. He was charged with money laundering of drug trafficking proceeds, bribery and fraud.
Today the 43 year old Villareal, plead guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and conspiring to transport stolen money in foreign commerce in the San Antonio case and guilty in another charge in Corpus Christi of conspiring to launder money.
Prosecutors dismissed one count of money laundering for the guilty plea of conspiracy of money laundering.
He could receive a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the money laundering counts and to five years on the money transporting charge.
U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez presided over the case, and has not yet set a sentencing date.
Astonishingly, former governor Humberto Moreira, is yet to be charged with any wrongdoing, although the scandal forced his resignation as chief of the PRI national presidency. His brother Ruben became the governor after Torres, and currently is the governor of Coahuila
The brothers suffered a fracture in their once close relationship, and no longer speak.
The brothers suffered a fracture in their once close relationship, and no longer speak.
Humberto Moreira was named by Forbes Magazine as one of "The 10 Most Corrupt Mexicans in 2013". He was enraged at the infamous nod, and threatened to sue the magazine. As expected, his bluster amounted to nothing. (photo of the Ten is below)
Too bad. If he filed a civil suit against Forbes, he would not have a choice but to testify and answer some interesting questions about all the missing Coahuila funds during his governorship.
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Too bad. If he filed a civil suit against Forbes, he would not have a choice but to testify and answer some interesting questions about all the missing Coahuila funds during his governorship.
