BROWNSVILLE — Cameron County commissioners will discuss possible legal issues regarding the county tax office behind closed doors at the commission meeting Tuesday morning.
The discussion arises after criminal charges were filed last week against County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre.
The arrests led to a shutdown of the tax office for three days in order for state and federal authorities to search and seize documents from the tax office.
The tax office will be fully operational starting today, said County Judge Pete Sepulveda Jr.
“We are working with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that the DMV System is up and running first thing Monday morning,” Sepulveda’s office said in a statement.
The statement said the tax office at the Courthouse Administration Building in Brownsville will be fully operational. It was unclear whether branch offices in Harlingen and San Benito also would be processing motor vehicle registrations.
Yzaguirre was arrested along with county tax investigator Pedro Garza, dealer/notary supervisor Omar Sanchez-Paz and Chief of Investigations Lt. Jose Mireles.
The arrests are the result of an investigation called “Operation Dirty Deeds,” an undercover operation led by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Yzaguirre was charged with four counts of bribery, a second-degree felony; engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony; and official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor.
Garza was charged with bribery, engaging in organized criminal activity and official oppression.
Sanchez-Paz was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and abuse of official capacity, a Class A misdemeanor.
Mireles was charged with bribery, engaging in organized criminal activity and official oppression.
