By Lucio Borderland Beat
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Pancho second from left
Mexican business man, Francisco ‘Pancho’ Colorado Cessa, was a key figure in the Zetas horse ring,
money laundering trial, held in an Austin federal court trial in 2013.
money laundering trial, held in an Austin federal court trial in 2013.
His co-defendants were; Jesús Maldonado Huitrón, Eusebio Maldonado Huitrón, José Treviño Morales, and Fernando Solís García, in a trial that was loaded with information of the Zetas cartel, the interworkings of the organized crime information and insider testimony from witnesses such as Jesús Enrique Rejón Aguilar aka “El Mamito” or Z-7.
Arguably, the most jaw-dropping moment in the case came at its ending, when federal prosecutors unveiled a plot by Colorado, his son and business partner, attempting a 1.2 million dollar bribe to the presiding judge in the Zeta case, in exchange of a light sentence for Francisco.
The sting included, an informant, monitored jail house phone conversations, verbal code to be used by the judge, and payola stashed in golf club bags.
Ramon Segura Flores and Francisco Colorado Jr were arrested in a parking lot across from the courthouse at the trial end just before sentencing. Charges were brought against the two men in addition to the elder Colorado. Segura and Jr. entered into a plea deal for a one year sentence and deportation.
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At their sentencing Segura and Jr were remorseful, vowing to follow the straight and narrow, and apologized to the court.
Said Jr.; “I am ashamed of how I insulted the law, this is going to affect the rest of my life.”
Said Jr.; “I am ashamed of how I insulted the law, this is going to affect the rest of my life.”
Once in Veracruz however, last month, Francisco Colorado Jr. and Ramon Segura Flores denied their guilt, saying the three men never agreed to a bribe and had no intention of ever proffering any money. Segura saying, “The case was a fabrication, there wasn’t a crime.”
Today Francisco was handed down a 5 year prison sentence, to be served consecutively to his 20 year sentence he was given in the money laundry case.
Judge Sparks was never aware of the investigation or bribe attempt until it became public.
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, and using his ADT Petroservicios for Zeta money laundering.
Chivis and Havana covered the trial and posted weekly detailed reports. The reports include the Zetas history, details of the case, Zeta criminality and money laundering structure.
Read Trial begins here
Read week 1 here
Read week 2 here
Read week 3 here-Mamito testimony
Read 'Story behind the Story here
Read Trial begins here
Read week 1 here
Read week 2 here
Read week 3 here-Mamito testimony
Read 'Story behind the Story here