LEFT: Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. RIGHT: Weslaco businessman Ricardo "Rick" Quintanilla, left, walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Photos by Joel Martinez | [email protected])
McALLEN — Former Precinct 1 Hidalgo County commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar and Weslaco businessman Ricardo “Rick” Quintanilla were found guilty last fall of a combined 70 counts of bribery, money laundering and wire fraud in relation to the $38.5 million rehabilitation of Weslaco’s water treatment infrastructure.
On Wednesday, the judge handed down a sentence of 20 years in federal prison to Cuellar, and 16 years and eight months to Quintanilla.
Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar greets supporters before he walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar greets supporters before he walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar greets supporters before he walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar greets supporters before he walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar greets supporters before he walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar greets supporters before he walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Former Hidalgo Country Precinct 1 Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar greets supporters before he walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])
RICARDO “RICK” QUINTANILLA
Weslaco businessman Ricardo “Rick” Quintanilla, left, walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Weslaco businessman Ricardo “Rick” Quintanilla, left, walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Weslaco businessman Ricardo “Rick” Quintanilla, center, walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Weslaco businessman Ricardo “Rick” Quintanilla, left, walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])Weslaco businessman Ricardo “Rick” Quintanilla, center, walks into the McAllen federal courthouse before his sentencing trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])
