El Paso Public Corruption Investigation Goes Further Than Expected

Elizabeth “Betti” Flores, a former El Paso County commissioner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud for accepting bribes in exchange for votes, the latest plea in an ongoing public corruption investigation.^[1]

In recent months, the FBI has raided the offices of El Paso County Judge Anthony Cobos, two county commissioners and other local officials, including Cobos’ former chief of staff. The latest plea came from former County Commissioner Flores, who admitted in her plea to taking bribes in exchange for votes on county contracts and other issues.^[2] According to one count, she was paid $10,000 to vote in favor of a contract for the $20 million El Paso County Parking Garage Annex and to advocate change orders to that contract. The contract was awarded in 2004.^[3]

Flores pleaded guilty Friday to four charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and the deprivation of honest services and two charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each count could bring her 20 years in prison.^[4]

Cobos’ former chief of staff, John Travis Ketner, pleaded guilty last month to corruption charges and claimed he was hired specifically to solicit bribes from vendors looking for county contracts.^[5] He filed an 18-page document in federal court implicating others and describing how a campaign donation, cash or trip could secure a lucrative taxpayer-funded contract.^[6]

We have previously blogged at length about the following crimes: Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Public Corruption

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^[1] AP Staff, Ex-El Paso Official Pleads to Corruption, Associated Press Newswire, July 9, 2007, available at LEXIS, News Library, Wire News Services File.
^[2] Id.
^[3] Id.
^[4] Id.
^[5] Id.
^[6] Id.