Thread: TX: Mexican Mafia man gets 6 years

Mexican Mafia man gets 6 years

By Alison Beshur
The Daily Times

Published March 15, 2007

A sixth man charged in an alleged Mexican Mafia ring of robberies has pleaded guilty.

Kerrville man, Librado Chacon Rodriguez III pleaded guilty Wednesday in the 198th Judicial District. He was sentenced to six years in prison for engaging in organized criminal activity.

“After considering all of his options, Mr. Rodriguez decided that accepting this offer was in his best interest, given the uncertainty and risk of trial,” said Rodriguez’s attorney, Richard Ellison.

Rodriguez, 39, will receive credit for 407 days already served.

Last year, seven men were indicted on organized crime charges. One man was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Rodriguez and four others have pleaded guilty, and a seventh man, Stephen Flores, is awaiting trial.

When arrested, Flores confessed his involvement and offered additional testimony that helped convict the other alleged members of the “criminal street gang.”

In February, Ellison filed a motion to disqualify Ron Sutton, district attorney in the 198th Judicial District, and his office from prosecuting the two remaining cases.

He alleged a “secret deal” between Flores and the district attorney’s office.

District Judge Stephen Ables denied that motion following a three-hour hearing and fined Ellison $1,000 for filing the motion “for the purpose of harassment.”

Amos Barton, assistant district attorney in the 198th Judicial District and the lead prosecutor in the Mexican Mafia cases, said he was pleased with Wednesday’s guilty plea.

“I’m pleased that the county saved a lot of money avoiding a trial,” Barton said. “I’m pleased he chose to resolve it this way.”

Some of the others who pleaded guilty for their involvement in the alleged theft ring received longer prison terms.

Rodriguez had several robbery charges and a probation revocation for a previous driving while intoxicated charge pending. Wednesday’s sentence lumped punishments for those offenses in with the first-degree felony charges of organized criminal activity.

“He was a minor player, a new member in the Mexican Mafia,” Barton said. “His sentence was in accordance with his level of involvement that we know of.”

http://web.dailytimes.com/story.lasso?e ... 649b5eb7f3

“I’m pleased that the county saved a lot of money avoiding a trial,” Barton said. “I’m pleased he chose to resolve it this way.”

The cost of 6 years of taxpayer financed incarceration? Why wasn't he prosecuted under FEDERAL RICO STATUTES?