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A state district judge last week signed a warrant for the arrest of a 51-year-old Edinburg politiquero who federal authorities arrested earlier this month on bribery allegations.
The warrant, which state District Judge Mario E. Ramirez Jr. signed Wednesday, followed a motion to revoke Miguel Angel Garza’s community supervision in a 2018 driving while intoxicated case.
He entered into community supervision on Nov. 5, 2018, after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated (third or more). He received four years community supervision and 240 hours of community service, court records show.
Probation officials filed the motion to revoke on May 17, arguing his community supervision should be revoked due to his federal arrest on May 10. The motion also notes that Garza failed to work nearly 64 hours of community service.
As of Monday morning, jail records do not indicate that Garza has been booked into the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on the warrant. A hearing on the motion to revoke his community supervision has not yet been scheduled, according to court records.
The federal indictment against Garza alleges that he participated in a kickback scheme where former elected officials sold their votes on contracts the city awarded. The charging document also alleges the scheme involved federal funds in excess of $10,000, which the city of Edinburg received in 2019 and 2020 for “grants, contracts, subsidies, loans, guarantees, insurance, and other forms of federal assistance.”
The indictment refers to the former elected officials as “Official A” and “Official B.”
It also lists a “Person 1” who owned an Edinburg business and attempted to obtain contracts and work agreements with the city while also trying to maintain existing contracts and work agreements.
“Official A,” “Official B” and “Person 1” have not yet been publicly identified.
Federal prosecutors allege that both former officials were in positions with the city of Edinburg where they could vote on whether to award contracts and work agreements to Person 1’s business.
The charging document alleges that Garza “did knowingly, and corruptly aid and abet” both public officials to solicit and demand cash bribes of over $5,000 in order for elected officials to vote favorably on contracts awarded to a business controlled by Person 1.
The indictment alleges the scheme spanned from June 1, 2019, to March 1, 2020.
In February 2020, The Monitor reported that FBI agents raided Garza’s home.
The politiquero is a well-known campaign supporter of various elected officials and is also involved in the voter fraud case against former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has maintained his innocence.
Garza testified during a hearing late last year that sought to disqualify Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. from prosecuting the mayor.
During his testimony, Garza admitted that the FBI questioned him about Molina, the mayor’s relationships and about a pay-to-play scheme.
Garza denied at the time that he was cooperating with an FBI investigation into Molina.
Federal prosecutors are also seeking to seize $47,235 should Garza be convicted.
He has since posted bond in the federal case, court records indicate.
