Former Hidalgo County sheriff pleads guilty to money laundering

Hidalgo County Sheriff Guadalupe “Lupe” Trevino cited “internal and external pressures” in submitting his resignation Friday. His tenure as sheriff has been plagued by controversy. Hidalgo County Sheriff Guadalupe “Lupe” Trevino cited “internal and external pressures” in submitting his resignation Friday. His tenure as sheriff has been plagued by controversy. Photo: James Coburn / Associated Press Photo: James Coburn / Associated Press Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Former Hidalgo County sheriff pleads guilty to money laundering 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

McALLEN — Former Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge related to money laundering, a little more than two weeks since abruptly resigning and just days after a former aide pleaded guilty to one count of misprison of a felony, federal prosecutors said.

Treviño, who resigned March 28 after nine years as the county's top law enforcement officer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering involving a campaign contribution from suspected drug trafficker Tomas “El Gallo” Gonzalez. The charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

On Friday, Patricia Medina, Treviño's former chief of staff and campaign treasurer during his 2012 re-election, admitted to helping him conceal the money by falsifying election records. Medina faces up to three years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines.

For the past year and half, the sheriff's office has been the target of federal investigations that have thrust the misdeeds of its officers into the public glare.

Treviño has said his troubles began in December 2012, when his son, Jonathan, a Mission police officer, was arrested for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy, involving a joint drug task force comprised of the Mission Police Department and the sheriff's department. Six sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement officers, all members of the so-called Panama Unit, have either pleaded guilty or been convicted.

Last summer, Treviño was subpoenaed in the trial of a former sheriff's deputy charged in the Panama Unit scandal, testifying for hours about allegations of illegal fundraising and his handling of subordinates.

During the same trial, a convicted ex-deputy, James Phil “J.P.” Flores, testified that deputies were expected to raise funds for Treviño's campaigns or face the wrath of the sheriff's top commander, Jose Padilla. In December, Padilla was indicted on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Trevino later fired him.

Until pleading guilty, Treviño maintained his innocence even as the Panama Unit sentencings were delayed at least twice to allow the federal investigation to proceed.

Treviño is also the subject of a lawsuit filed earlier this year by political rival, Republican Robert Caples, who ran against him in 2012. The lawsuit alleges the former sheriff violated the Texas Election Code, failing to report certain contributions, accepting cash contributions over the allowable amount, including money he allegedly received from an indicted drug dealer.

anelsen@express-news.net