Sentencing delayed for former Rio Grande City judge in Weslaco bribery case
The sentencing of Leonel Lopez Jr., the former Rio Grande City municipal judge who last spring pleaded guilty to bribery charges, has been delayed interminably, according to federal court records.
Handed down Sept. 24 by U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa, the order canceling Lopez’s sentencing “until further notice” represents the fifth such delay of the former public official, who pleaded guilty to federal programs bribery on March 22, 2019.
With his guilty plea, Lopez became the first of a number of men to be publicly implicated in a bribery scheme involving the $38.5 million rehabilitation of the city of Weslaco’s water treatment facilities.
Lopez admitted to accepting millions of dollars in bribes, then funneling part of that money, in turn, to Weslaco public officials in order to secure contracts for the firms that were ultimately awarded the construction project.
Read more: https://www.themonitor.com/2020/09/30/sentencing-delayed-former-rgc-judge-weslaco-bribery-case/
(McAllen Monitor)