Free Republic

DEL RIO — Except for two unresolved evidentiary issues, the stage is set for the August trial in federal court here of seven people accused of a wide range of crimes relating to the Kickapoo tribe. The charges, outlined in a 25-count indictment returned early last year, range from embezzlement to tax evasion to violating the civil rights of dissident tribal members. Among the accused are former state Rep. Timoteo Garza of Eagle Pass; his father, Isidro Garza Jr., a former Kickapoo tribal manager; and Raul Garza, a former trial chairman and the only Kickapoo charged. When the court-imposed deadline...

Amado Abascal III, a powerful four-term state district judge from Eagle Pass, was indicted Thursday, accused of falsely reporting the source of $15,000 in cash from the Kickapoo Indian casino. According to the indictment returned by a Travis County grand jury, Abascal lied three years ago when he claimed in a campaign finance report that 15 individuals each had donated $1,000. Instead, prosecutors said, the money came from tribal manager Isidro Garza Jr. in two lump-sum payments. The felony charge of tampering with a government record carries a maximum penalty of two years' incarceration and a $10,000 fine. A conviction...

The former director of the Kickapoo Indian health care program was sentenced Monday to 15 years in federal prison for scheming to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the tribe. Maricela Mendoza, 50, was convicted last year of money laundering and theft after a six-day trial in federal court. Evidence showed that she forged and cashed numerous tribal checks. Testifying in her own defense, Mendoza admitted cashing the checks, but claimed the money was used for legitimate tribal purposes. However, evidence showed that Mendoza converted most of the checks to cash at a Mr. Payroll in Eagle Pass, where...