Local Businessman Pleads Guilty In Corruption Case
Monday was supposed to be the beginning of another trial in the public corruption investigation.
Instead, Adrian Pena pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
These guilty pleas come just days after Pena – a former employee of CF Jordan construction – and his defense attorney found out some of the government’s witnesses against him are paid informants.
Pena, 36, was accused of bribing two elected officials in two separate cases in order to secure multi-million dollar contracts.
Monday, he admitted to all the allegations made against him.
In the first case, Pena admits to bribing former El Paso County Commissioner Betti Flores in order to get her support to build the county’s garage for his then employer, CF Jordan. Pena admitted that between August 23, 2003, until June 14, 2006, he agreed to remodel Betti Flores’, then a sitting El Paso County Commissioner, residence in return for the Commissioner’s support and vote to award a vendor construction contract to his employer at the time, CF Jordan. CF Jordan has not been accused of any wrong doing.
Pena further admitted that instead of remodeling the residence, he paid the Commissioner $1,000 in August 2004 and another $9,000 in September 2004 after County Commissioners voted to pay a $382,158 invoice submitted by Pena’s employer.
In the second case, the government accused Pena and Jose Gallegos of Quest contracting of bribing former El Paso Independent School District trustee Sal Mena. Pena admitted that between May 2002 and July 2007, he conspired with his co-defendant-40-year-old Gallegos to pay a $13,000 bribe to Mena for his help in securing contracts for subcontractors on EPISD construction projects. The $19 million contract to build Hut Brown Middle School went to Vistacon contracting. Vistacon was searched by the FBI in October.
Gallegos faces up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty on Friday to the same conspiracy charge.
According to court documents, Flores’ former assistant, Elizabeth Sotelo was paid almost $20,000 for her help as a confidential informant.
Also a witness for the FBI, Raul Solis of Border Demolition.
Sotelo was paid by the government for several years on this case and others.
The government has not provided Pena and his defense any other details related to the case.
Judge Frank Montalvo told Pena, “Don’t make any transfers or changes of money out of the ordinary.”
Pena has been assigned a probation officer who will look into his finances and prepare a pre-sentencing report the judge will consider.
Pena is out on bail and faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.
His sentencing is scheduled for April 20th.
