A former Cameron County official will be sentenced to federal prison June 15 following a guilty plea he entered on a bribery charge filed against him.
Arnoldo Romeo Flores Jr., of Mission, pleaded guilty to a charge of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Texas stated in a press release.
Authorities said Flores was the director of Human Resources/Civil Service for Cameron County. As part of his plea, he admitted he used his personal cellphone and email as well as the internet to further a bribery scheme.
“In those communications, Flores discussed using his influence to help someone obtain two separate contracts from Cameron County in exchange for bribes,” the press release stated.
Flores provided inside information, such as the amounts of other bids, according to the press release. In one instance, Flores told an individual to make sure the bid was under $8,900 to be successful. In return, Flores received $3,000. He accepted another $1,500 for his assistance in securing a second Cameron County bid.
According to the plea agreement, the use of his cellphone assisted and led to the bribe payments.
Flores faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has also agreed to pay restitution.
The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office and Brownsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jody Young, Robert S. Johnson and Israel Cano are prosecuting the case.
