A Texas sheriff has been indicted on multiple fraud charges just two months after former President Donald Trump granted a pardon to his brother, Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar. The case centres on allegations that Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar Jr. misappropriated public funds to operate a private disinfecting business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal Charges and Pandemic-Era Business
Federal prosecutors allege that Sheriff Martin Cuellar Jr., 67, from Laredo, conspired with two of his assistants to defraud his office. The trio are accused of establishing a for-profit company named Disinfect Pro Master in April 2020, at the onset of the global health crisis.
According to the indictment, the business utilised employees from the sheriff's office to conduct its day-to-day operations, both during and outside of their official county working hours. This arrangement allegedly allowed the company to operate with minimal overhead costs while securing lucrative contracts.
Lucrative Contracts and Personal Gain
The disinfecting enterprise secured contracts with various local businesses and restaurants. Most notably, it obtained a substantial $500,000 contract to clean schools within the local district. Prosecutors state that despite this significant revenue, the business maintained low operational expenses by allegedly using county personnel and supplies.
Each of the three charged individuals—Sheriff Cuellar, Assistant Chief Alejandro Gutierrez, 47, and former Assistant Chief Ricardo Rodriguez, 65—reportedly received approximately $175,000 from the business over its more than two years of operation. Furthermore, it is alleged that Sheriff Cuellar used $71,000 of his proceeds to purchase a 10-acre property.
Legal Proceedings and Political Context
A federal grand jury indicted Sheriff Cuellar in November on three counts of defrauding a local government that receives federal funds, one count of conspiracy, and one count of engaging in a financial transaction involving criminally derived property. The indictment was unsealed recently, leading to Cuellar's first court appearance.
This legal development occurs in the shadow of a controversial presidential pardon. Just two months prior to these charges, former President Trump pardoned Sheriff Cuellar's brother, Congressman Henry Cuellar, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, in a separate federal bribery case. That case involved allegations of accepting $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani government-controlled energy company and a Mexican bank.
Defence Arguments and Potential Penalties
Sheriff Martin Cuellar has entered a plea of not guilty. His defence attorney, Eric Reed, has publicly stated that the charges are "based on some untrue assumptions and narratives that have been fueled perhaps by politics and local rivalries." Similarly, Alejandro Gutierrez has pleaded not guilty, with his attorney, Adam Cortez, asserting that the evidence shows his client "did not knowingly do the allegations."
In contrast, Ricardo Rodriguez has already pleaded guilty and is currently on bond awaiting a sentencing hearing scheduled for March.
If convicted, both Sheriff Cuellar and Assistant Chief Gutierrez face severe penalties. They could each receive up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the fraud charges. Additionally, Sheriff Cuellar faces an extra 10 years in prison and further fines for the money laundering charge. Both men have been released on bond pending trial.
Political Fallout and Accusations
The case has ignited significant political commentary. Former President Trump, who issued the pardon to Congressman Henry Cuellar, later publicly criticised the moderate Democrat for being disloyal. Trump claimed that Cuellar "essentially destroyed his life even with the Pardon given" by refusing to switch political parties during his re-election campaign this year.
Trump has also alleged that the Biden administration engaged in "political weaponization" against the Cuellar family due to policy disagreements, particularly regarding the Southern Border. Congressman Henry Cuellar has maintained his and his wife's innocence in the bribery case, according to reports.
The unfolding legal drama surrounding the Cuellar brothers highlights complex intersections of local law enforcement, federal justice, and high-stakes national politics, all set against the backdrop of the pandemic emergency.
