The Brownsville Firefighters Association Local 970 has filed a complaint for theft by a public servant against current Brownsville Fire Department Chief Carlos Elizondo charging that while he was the group's president he withdrew about $8,000 and has refused to account for the missing money.
Jorge Lerma, the Association's president, said in Offense Report Call Number 17082235 told Officer J. Vallejo on August 14 that after the group's new officers discovered the missing funds, they went to the Cameron County District Attorney's Office and were directed to file the complaint with the Brownsville Police Dept., the entity with criminal jurisdiction.
The police report states that Lerma told Vallejo that Elizondo was the association's president from January 2014 through May 2016 and that during that time he was in control of the Firefighters Association Political Action Committee's account with the local Compass Bank.
Lerma. who has been president of the association since February said that in reviewing the books, it was discovered that more than $8,000 in the group's account was unaccounted for. After making inquiries with Compass, he said the group found out that "Chief Elizondo had made ATM cash withdrawals on numerous occasions which should not have been made because all withdrawals need to be accounted for.
"After the missing money was discovered, (Lerma) contacted Chief Elizondo n March 2017 and requested an explanation for the missing money but he (Elizondo) has not provided anything."
The complaint will now be investigated by the Brownsville Police and the findings will be turned over to the D.A. The charge of Theft by a Public Servant is classified as a State Jail Felony. The case status is classified as "active."