Public Corruption: 2 sentenced to prison, Frank Apodaca granted continuance
Two people were sentenced to time in federal prison in the ongoing public corruption case.
Charlie Garcia was sentenced to seven months in jail, three years of supervised release, $20,000 fine and has to pay $5,575 in restitution to the Socorro Independent School District.
Ray Rodriguez was sentenced to four months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, $20,000 fine and has to pay $5,575 in restitution to SISD.
Both were immediately taken into custody by U.S. Marshalls after their sentencings.
Former Access Healthsource CEO Frank Apodaca, who was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, was granted a continuance until Nov. 5.
Outside the courtroom, Apodaca told ABC-7 he just wanted to thank God becauce his health isn’t that great.
The two sentenced on Monday are part of a group of 11 El Pasoans who turned themselves in to the FBI in September 2010 after they were indicted that same week on federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations or RICO charges.
The case centers around Access HealthSource and its contracts with El Paso County and three school districts from 1998-2007.
The school districts were El Paso Independent School District, Ysleta Independent School District, and SISD. The indictment states there was a pattern of racketeering mail fraud and wire fraud.
RICO indictments returned in September 2010:
Charges: Frank Apodaca Jr and Marc Schwartz with two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and deprivation of honest services, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Charges: Larry Medina with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and deprivation of honest services and one count of mail fraud.
Luther Jones, Gilbert Sanchez, David Escobar, Mickey Duntley, Ray Rodriguez, and Charlie Garcia with one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
Charges: Willie Gandara Sr. and Linda Chavez with one count each of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
