Jones, Sanchez Each Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison

Former El Paso County Judge Luther Jones and former County Clerk Gilbert Sanchez were each sentenced to 6 years in federal prison for their roles in a bribery conspiracy.

Jones and Sanchez were found guilty in April of scheming to award a county contract to a company with ties to Mr. Jones. Federal Judge Frank Montalvo also sentenced both defendants to 3 years probation.

When given the opportunity to speak, both men declined. “I’d love to speak but he’s asked me not to speak and I’m going to follow his advice,” said Jones, referring to his attorney.

Jones’ attorney, John Cline, argued Jones’ crime was serious but not egregious. He said that if the sentences in other public corruption cases around the country were quantified, the seriousness of Jones’ offenses would be right ‘below the midpoint.’

Cline said Jones should get a little more than 3 years in prison because of his service to the community.

He said Jones had “mentored many young people, been a friend to people in hard times, and provided free legal service.”

But Montalvo said public corruption was too rampant in El Paso. “One doesn’t have to be a social scientist or a researcher to know that we have more than our fair share of that problem”, he said.

“It’s gotten to the point where it’s ridiculous. Nothing happens to these individuals. Send a clear message that this will not be tolerated. If someone in Miami gets a shorter sentence, we don’t care,” said Federal Prosecutor Antonio Franco.

Cline said Jones had already started paying for what he did. “He comes before the court in prison clothes, shackled, that’s a powerful deterrent for others.”

Montalvo said Jones’ actions hurt the community. “Conduct like his, in a poor county, like El Paso, has clear and direct consequences.” Montalvo later added: “He (Jones) just intended to cut a deal and there was no limit to what he was going to do to make it happen.”

Sanchez was sentenced second. “His problem was that he wanted the best for El Paso county,” said the former District Clerk’s attorney, Orlando Mondragon. He was referring to the digitization of county records — the very thing the contract Sanchez and Jones tried to steer revolved around.

Montalvo raised his eyebrows when Mondragon said that. “He was the one in charge of preventing this from happening,” he said.

The judge seemed unconvinced by Mondragon’s contentions. ‘He (Sanchez) liked going to these nice restaurants, going to Las Vegas. Because of that, he decided to commit this crime,” said Montalvo, referring to the bribes Jones offered Sanchez.

Montalvo said both men were to blame. “The leader of the pack was Mr Jones. Mr. Sanchez clearly went along. He was the one that stood before commissioners court and misrepresented evidence.”

Defense attorneys were unwilling to talk to ABC-7 after the sentencing.

During a news conference, prosecutors said the sentencing sent a strong message.

“Mr. Jones had a lot of influence in this town. He knew a lot of politicians, his life involved politics. He was a former State Rep. so he could easily commit this crime. Mr. Sanchez didn’t have the same experience, but still has the same capability. Through the political process, he got to know a lot of politicians”, said Franco.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jones and Sanchez are expected to serve their six-year sentences at La Tuna Federal Prison, joining convicted businessmen Bob Jones and Ernie Lopez.

In addition to the prison time, Jones was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.Sanchez was only fined $200 worth of court costs.

The courtroom was eerily quiet prior to sentencing. Approximately 70 people crowded the chamber, but only hushed whispers were heard before sentencing began.

Jones and Sanchez appeared in court shackled, wearing orange jumpsuits. Deferring to the advice of their attorneys, neither defendant spoke when given the opportunity to do so by Judge Montalvo.

Jones was sentenced first. He nodded his head up and down after hearing the sentence. His daughter was crying as she later left the courtroom.

Sanchez’s parents were in the courtroom. He remained motionless and expressionless when he heard his sentence.

Other friends and family members were somber and quiet as they left the court following the sentencing.

Luther Jones’ longtime law partner Marty Jobe and her husband, Stanley Jobe, were in the courtroom but had nothing to say about the six-year federal sentence when asked by ABC-7.

Federal prison guidelines allow each man the possibility of a sentence reduction of up to two months per year served for good behavior. Each will receive credit for nearly four months already served prior to sentencing.

County Judge Veronica Escobar said Jones and Sanchez’s actions have effects on the entire community. “The reverberations of cases like these are felt by everybody. They’re not just felt by those directly involved but they’re felt by the people employed by the organizations, the people who take the time to vote, the folks who work really hard to pay their taxes.”

“They both decided to commit the same crime, they both decided to go to trial together so they deserve to spend time together in prison”, said Franco.