Two Former El Paso County Judges Accused of Corruption

Former County Judge Anthony Cobos was indicted in what authorities are a calling a “pay-to-play” scheme tied to an ongoing public corruption investigation.

Cobos, whose full name is Antonio Guillermo Cobos, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and the deprivation of honest services; one count of mail fraud and the deprivation of honest services; and, one count of mail fraud. Also arrested Friday was 61-year-old Lorenzo Hilario Aguilar, who faces federal charges of one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and the deprivation of honest services; one count of mail fraud and the deprivation of honest services; and, one count of mail fraud dating back to 2007. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000

Cobos will remain in jail overnight Friday by orders of the court.

U.S. Magistrate Garney declined to issue a bond after Cobos did not give a report based on his assets which forced the court to delay posting bond.

The indictment alleges that during 2007, Cobos accepted bribes in the form of cash money and other benefits, including campaign contributions to El Paso City Council candidates he supported, in exchange for his vote and influence in refinancing approximately $40 million of El Paso County debt and to terminate the then El Paso County financial adviser’s contract and replace with another company, according to a news release issued by United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan.

“The citizens of El Paso County expect, and are entitled, to have their elected representatives make decisions on the basis of the merits of what they are voting on, not whether or how they can personally benefit. This indictment attempts to hold those who breach that trust accountable for their conduct,” Pitman said.

This is the eighth indictment stemming from a large scale FBI investigation which began in 2004. Assistant United States Attorneys William F. Lewis, Jr., and Juanita Fielden are prosecuting this case.

A separate indictment charging Cirilo “Chilo” Madrid and Ruben “Sonny” Garcia alleges they paid Former County Judge Dolores Briones, identified only by her initials, to secure a county contract for Garcia’s company, LKG.

LKG received $50,000 per month to oversee grants for the Border Children’s Mental Health Collaborative, an agency that provides services for mentally ill and disturbed children. The service, investigators say, was never rendered.

In return, Briones received $2,000 to continue her support of the LKG contract, the indictment alleges. Briones has not been charged.