Restaurant Co-Owner Accused Of Illegally Obtaining Loan Still Jailed

By ABC-7 Reporter Celina Avila

EL PASO, Texas -A local businessman remains in the El Paso County Detention Facility after he was arrested three weeks ago.

Oswaldo Kuchle, a co-owner of Aromarestaurant in West El Paso,had a bond hearing Tuesday at the federal courthouse Downtown. Kuchle is accused of cheating the government into lending him millions of dollars.

The government claims Kuchle is an extreme flight risk, while his defense attorney says the last place he wants to go back to is Mexico.

Kuchle’s family and friends gathered outside the federal courthouse after Tuesday’s bond hearing. Kuchle will have another bond hearing on Friday.

While assistant U.S Attorney, Steve Spitzer argued Kuchle — a Mexican citizen — is an extreme flight risk.

His defense attorney, Sib Abraham, told the judge, “More frightening than facing a federal judge is going back to Mexico.”

He added, “There are a lot of people moving from Mexico to El Paso because of what’s happening over there and setting up their businesses here.”

Kuchle is accused of borrowing about $2.3 million from two separate loans.

According to testimony from an FBI agent on Tuesday, in 2006 Kuchle borrowed about $1.3 million from Chancery Export Finance LLC.

The money was then wired to one of Kuchle’s employees, Maria Elena Rodriguez Venzor.

She then ordered a cashiers check for $1.1 million made payable to Arnoldo Carreon Renteria.

ABC-7 was there two years later in 2008 when Carreon Renteria and his son were among five men who were shot and killed in Palomas, Mexico.

Authorities say they found 162 bullet casings at the scene of the shootings.

No word yet on Kuchle’s and Carreon Renteria’s relationship.

Aroma restaurant recently opened in El Paso after Kuchle’s restaurant in Juarez was burned down as part of the on-going violence.

Kuchle’s been charged with several counts of fraud and is accused of obtaining over$2 million in loans underwritten by the export-import bank.

Judge Garney is offering Kuchle the possibility of a split bond.

At least $100,000 in cash along with a signature bond of at least $250,000 co-signed by someone who can assure the amount will be paid if Kuchle fails to appear in court.

The judge gave Kuchle until this Friday to find a co-signer.