Of the $329,539.40 in cash deposits Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre made from 2010 to 2015, the case centered around 11 specific $100 bills, said lead defense attorney Eddie Lucio.
Of the $329,539.40 in cash deposits Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre made from 2010 to 2015, the case centered around 11 specific $100 bills, said lead defense attorney Eddie Lucio.
William Mitchell, an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office in Cameron County, was unable to trace any of those $100 bills to Yzaguirre’s 10 bank accounts.
Mitchell was the state’s final witness, and the defense opted not to call any additional witnesses.
After hearing all the evidence, Lucio asked for a directed verdict, or an order from Senior state District Judge Manuel Banales to the jury to return a particular verdict. His argument was that no reasonable jury can reach the conclusion that Yzaguirre was guilty of bribery.
“The element of bribery requires that there be an agreement between parties involved, not just an exchange. There has to be a quid pro quo,” Lucio said. “There was no direct evidence from witnesses that there was an agreement.”
Assistant District Attorney Peter Gilman argued that there need not be a “formal agreement.”
“I think that Mr. (Mel) Sosa goes into Tony Yzaguirre’s office because that is the only way he can make sure the vehicle transfers are done that day,” Gilman said.
There could not have been bribery at all if some of the titles processed those days were dealer titles, Lucio added.
Seven charges, the Dec. 15 charges, were previously dismissed because all the titles involved were dealer titles.
Lucio also requested that the official oppression charge have a directed verdict because Sosa never testified that he was searched.
Gilman countered that Sosa testified he was “touched,” and that Yzaguirre ordered that search through then county tax investigator Pedro Garza.
Banales denied all motions for a directed verdict.
Closing arguments are expected to begin this afternoon.
