Various Sources:
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The arrests of Yzaguirre, tax investigator Pedro Garza Jr., dealer/notary supervisor Omar Sanchez-Paz, and Jose Mireles, who served as a lieutenant with the Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collectors Office, on January were hailed as the culmination of a state bribery investigation called “Operation Dirty Deeds” carried out by an investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety which used informants who reportedly filmed and recorded alleged crimes in that office.![]()
In a prepared statement, Saenz said “The charges on Mireles were dropped last Friday. We intend to try the main defendant, Cameron County Tax Assessor Collector, first. After we prosecute Mr. Yzaguirre we will then prosecute any of his employees that may have been involved. It would be beneficial to Yzaguirre and his defense team to try his employees first. That is why we are doing this.”
Perhaps the critics were right when they charged that the arrest and prosecution of Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre may have been rushed prematurely to benefit the reelection of District Attorney Luis V. Saenz.
The arrests of Yzaguirre, tax investigator Pedro Garza Jr., dealer/notary supervisor Omar Sanchez-Paz, and Jose Mireles, who served as a lieutenant with the Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collectors Office, on January were hailed as the culmination of a state bribery investigation called “Operation Dirty Deeds” carried out by an investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety which used informants who reportedly filmed and recorded alleged crimes in that office. On Friday, the charges against Garza and Mireles were dismissed, ostensibly to focus on their boss Yzaguirre.
The group had been accused of taking bribes and other charges.
In a prepared statement, Saenz said “The charges on Mireles were dropped last Friday. We intend to try the main defendant, Cameron County Tax Assessor Collector, first. After we prosecute Mr. Yzaguirre we will then prosecute any of his employees that may have been involved. It would be beneficial to Yzaguirre and his defense team to try his employees first. That is why we are doing this.”Since the defendants cannot be charged with the same crimes, Saenz's claims may ring somewhat hollow.
Prediction: Yzaguirre will be offered a plea bargain where he will plead guilty to one misdemeanor count and be granted deferred adjudication for one year if he leaves office with all his benefits. If Saenz is lucky, Yzaguirre will accept and Saenz will spin this failure as a triumph for his Public Integrity Unit.
To the two defendants who were arrested publicly and with much fanfare before the cameras before Saenz's reelection: Sorry!