HOUSTON — Tomas Yarrington, former Tamaulipas governor and one-time presidential candidate, pleaded guilty to money laundering before a federal judge here Thursday afternoon.
Shortly before 1 p.m., a chain hugged Yarrington’s waist, connecting the shackles tied to his wrists and ankles as he walked into Senior U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle’s courtroom wearing a green uniform.
The scene drew a sharp contrast with the man dressed in dusty jeans, a plaid shirt and a full head of hair who said he was not guilty in 2018, shortly after he was extradited from Italy. Nearly three years later, a frail figure with thinning hair stood before the judge ready to change his plea.
The former governor was facing eight charges that alleged involvement with cartels from 1998 through 2013.
An indictment levied a slew of charges, including RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine and marijuana, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, conspiracy to make false statements to financial institutions, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to structure transactions to avoid reporting requirements and two counts of aiding and abetting bank fraud.
Yarrington and one of the government’s attorneys, Karen Betancourt, announced they reached a plea deal.
“Culpable,” Yarrington answered in Spanish to the judge who read out the charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, or money laundering. All other charges were dismissed.
The government believes the former governor took bribes totaling more than $3.5 million and used them to take out loans and buy property under “prestanombres,” or borrowed names.
The maximum sentence for money laundering is 20 years. Under the terms of the agreement, the government agreed to recommend a reduced sentence between 108 and 135 months, or eight to 11 years in prison.
Tagle reminded Yarrington the reduced sentence is a recommendation, not a guarantee. Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing could lead the judge to set a sentence different than the one recommended by the government.
As part of the deal, Yarrington forfeited property purchased with proceeds from unlawful activity. As Betancourt, the prosecutor, read the notice of forfeiture, Yarrington looked back from his place before the judge, drew a heavy sigh, pulled his shoulders back and turned again toward the judge.
He agreed to give up his claim to his residence on Windward Drive in Port Isabel. The plea deal, however, excluded the government’s claim to forfeit on a private plane and other property in Bexar County.
The most notorious charge, which linked the former governor to the Gulf Cartel’s paramilitary arm known as the Zetas, was dismissed Thursday. The charge alleged the governor accepted bribes from the cartels in exchange for protection from law enforcement in the state of Tamaulipas.
The money was allegedly collected by state police and delivered to the governor and an associate. Millions of dollars in proceeds clandestinely garnished were then laundered through asset acquisition.
Yarrington’s attorney, Chris Flood, stressed that Thursday’s guilty plea does not imply an association between his client and the cartels, Flood said after the hearing.
Thursday’s lone guilty charge simply read the proceeds came from “specific unlawful activity.”
Tagle said she will set a sentencing hearing date at a later time.
