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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Arraignment Hearing in Zetas Money Laundering Trial Bribery Case

 Chivis Martínez and Havana for Borderland Beat
Colorado Cessa Sr. to U.S. Court;
Let my son out and I won't appeal
An Arraignment is a criminal proceeding at which the defendant is, informed of the offense(s) charged in the complaint, information, indictment, or other charging document, and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty.  Arraignment may also include the determination if  bail will be set for the defendant.
 
The arraignment and detention hearing was held at 10:30 this morning for Francisco Colorado Cessa Jr. (full name as customary in Mexico; Francisco Augustin Colorado Cebado), Ramon Segura-Flores and Francisco Colorado Cessa (Sr.)  United States Magistrate Judge, Andrew W. Austin presided over the hearing in the attempted bribery case.  The defendants along with unnamed others, plotted to bribe presiding judge Sam Sparks 1.2 Million dollars in exchange for a sentence at the statutory minimum of 5 years for Colorado Sr.

Colorado Cessa Jr., the son of Francisco Colorado, is a University student and Segura is Colorado Cessa's partner at ADT Petrol Servicios .  Colorado Sr. is one of the defendants convicted in the "Zetas Money Laundering Trial" in May of this year.  

The sentencing phase for the money laundering trial began on September 4th, culminated in high drama when, as the sentencing hearing was winding down,  Segura and Colorado Jr. were arrested near the courthouse. This was subsequent to the testimony of Segura, at which time, under oath, he indignantly declared he had never participated in any illegal or criminal activity with Colorado Sr. the stunning turn of events of the bribery case overshadowed the sentencing.

When  the man at the center of the case, Colorado Sr.,  entered the courtroom this morning he was all smiles as he spotted and waved to his wife Maria Emma Salmon Rocho, two daughters and 14 year old step son.  His attorney Chris Wood, advised the court of his clients wish to have the hearings held concurrently,  rather than consecutively, he further stated his client wanted to wave his right to detention portion of the hearing, since he is already detained and he doesn't want it to affect his appeal should there be a ruling in his favor in appeal, secondly, Wood said his client wanted to stay in the courtroom for the next two arraignments that of his son and friend.
U.S. Attorney Douglas Gardner said he would have to defer to marshalls due to the fact there have been behavior issues when Colorado Sr.  is around his son, though he did not expound further.  The two other defendants then entered the courtroom, dressed in jail garb.
 
Garner calls FBI Special agent Steve Hause to testify, although not directly involved initially, he joined the case in the later stages and helped draft the affidavit.  He also participated in the surveillance, arrest,  and interview of Segura in addition to consulting with  with case agents Robert Mundy and Scott Lawson about the background of both the money laundering and bribery cases.  His testimony laid out the facts largely contained in the criminal complaint.

In August 2013, succeeding Colorado Sr. conviction, and continuing through September 4ht, agents reviewed jail telephone conversations between Jr. and Sr., which revealed that Jr., Sr., and Segura had discussed a plan to bribe a district court judge for a reduced sentence. 

The case developed with the aid of two confidential sources (CS1 and CS2)  and two agents, one posing  as a  former federal inmate the other as the attorney brother in law who “represented him” before the same judge in the Colorado Sr. case.  It was CS1 who on July 18th arranged a meeting with CS2 at “Strange Brew Coffee Shop” in Austin Texas with the undercover agents (UC1 and UC2).

CS1 is a trusted informant, having worked with FBI Agent Robert Mundy for two years, therefore has proven himself reliable, he met Colorado Sr. and the family while being incarcerated.
Colorado Cessa was a major player in the Zetas money laundering scheme, including horse racing
In their roles as brother-in-laws they provided their story to UC2, saying his personal case was for distribution of cocaine, and sentenced was soft because of a relationship between the judge and UC2.  During the recorded conversation, CS2 felt comfortable enough to give information of the plot, and how the plan for payment, and shared information from the defendants stored on his cell phone. 


Agents then revealed their true identity to CS2.  CS2 having a criminal drug history, decided to cooperate rather than fighting a bribery conspiracy charge.  It was CS2 who then introduced agents to Segura and Colorado Jr., the two men directly attempting to enact  the plot.

At that meeting Segura expressed that they wanted an attorney to handle the bribe, Colorado Jr. insisted on an attorney because of the attorney client privilege. 

Defense attorneys countered that both informants have criminal history's and were seeking  ulterior motives, they pointed out that CS2 had been a part of the bribery plot for financial reasons, and now assisting in the case to  divert his own charges.

Additional information and details of the investigation is in the criminal complaint below.

At the end of the day, judge Austin ruled against bail for Segura, not surprising due to his resources, wealth and immigration status.  But in a remarkable move, Colorado Sr. offered the court a deal;  If his son would be allowed bail, he would give up all right to appeals in his money laundering case conviction.

U.S. Attorney Douglas Gardner was adamant in his opposition of any deal, insinuating the action was a ploy against the U.S. system of justice, stating, "“The perversion of justice is their way of life".  Colorado Jr.'s attorney David Gerger asserted that his client has led a life free of crime.  He went on to suggest some type of protection agreement with a premier security firm guarding Colorado Jr. in Austin, with no internet or phone privileges, so he could be near his family and perhaps attend school.

Gardner continued his case against bail by saying, Colorado Jr. while in jail, he had been scoffing at the charges  against him and boasting that he would be drinking beer in Playa de Carmen this coming weekend after he was released.

Garner reminded the court on September 4th when testifying on behalf of his friend Colorado Sr., Segura was asked the question if he had ever engaged in criminal activity for or with Colorado Sr., he answered "no", U.S. attorney Michelle Fernald then reminded Segura that he was under oath.  He replied "yes ma'am". 

Segura was arrested after he left court on that same day.

Judge Austin did not rule on the issue saying he would have to take it under consideration.
 
The men were charged with “attempting to influence a public official who was selected to commit or aid in committing or collude in or allow any fraud on the United States.

Colorado Cessa Sr. was sentenced to 20 years in the money laundering case.

To read other posts on the trial type "zetas money laundering trial in the search bar" and  link to week one here
and week two  here

 

29 comments:

  1. bye bye boys u will somebodys Bitch little boy

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    1. Nooo......he wasn't readyyy!! (Kevin Hart line)

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  2. Good luck in prison 20 years is no walk in the park.

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  3. How the mighty have family. A few years back Colorado Sr. and Segura-Flores were sitting on top of the world washing money for the Z's and enriching themselves with oil contracts from Mexico's state oil company PEMEX. That was a boneheaded move Colorado Sr./ Jr. and Segura attempted when they tried to bribe U.S.federal Judge S. Sparks. Colorado Jr. was inline to inherit his father's massive wealth immediately if not for his bribery indictment. His next stop will not include a trip to the beautiful beach resort Playa del Carmen. His next stop is a trip to an concrete building surrounded by barbed wire and possibly corn fields.

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    1. I'm frightened the young Cessa will eventually cop a plea and get one year!

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    2. I'm agreeing w/that fear about the Cessa Jr. No prior offenses and all - especially with Andrew Austin considering that wacky baiil plea proposal. I don't know what the sentencing guidelines are for attempting to bribe a federal judge but I leave him in two plus out in 18 mos. that seems about right to me.

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  4. Seems like the dynamic dua again. I love the court stories. Good work! This is so typical of Cessa making deals for Christ sake- he thinks he is in charge still.

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    1. Who will be milking pemex pipelines for Pena nieto now?he will sell the contract to some other country for sure,robbing the country blind never stops,and there are no accountants in Mexico,the economy schools only teach To rob and plunder and deposit the money in foreign bank accounts,in somebody else's name,to avoid the shame...

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  5. Z40 snitching its funny when a so called tuff guy rats you find out who they really are

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  6. Any family connection between Ramon Segura-Flores and the witness in the Zeta money laundering trial, real estate agent Ruby Segura?

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    1. I don't think soooo, just the long-time business partner of Cessa Sr. had connections significadas with the Zzzzzzzzz's at ADT Petrolservicios.

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    2. I misread your question 7:38. I doubt that there is a family connection there. That would really be stretching it but anything is possible! Interesting thought.

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  7. We all heard of mexicos police taking bribes well if you can do some story about how american police are by far more crooked than mexicos or the same for arguments sake... In a state or fed court room any police or feds word is 100% believed over a citizen of usa because they worked on so many cases before bla bla bla and how you need proof of your innocense or your guilty in u.s.a. Proof i.e. video tape with date an time or during drug stops how they make the dog alert cuz they are to lazy to dig hard... I hate the u.s. justice system its so one sided and the govt is so fucd up they know drugs come from mexico an they know u.s. gun manufactures make lots of money ive heard of stories of 500 lbs of weed being paid just in bullets and gun pieces teams who carry parts of the gun in like 6 diff cars so each car dont have one single gun just a piece of a gun its just so sick this whole world i wish we had a borderland beat but called a different name like u.s.a. Beat of all the semi major to major shizit going on in usa readers would be stunned theres more drugs available by far in usa than in mexico for purchase or even credit... Cuz whats the objective of drug trafficker to get drug to destination not leave it sittin around getting old make it , get it, pick it pack it an ship that shit then once across border hello 49 more states just itching for more product

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    1. @8:21 a.m you sound like youve been thru the u.s system before.i find it easier to just not do drugs and i dont have to go thru it.some police are crooked in the u.s but not all but atlanta busted 11 police for taking money from drug dealers and telling them the best places in the ATL to sell but the feds busted them police for that!!

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    2. Just say "nah" to drugs -less compications with life. Truth, I swear.

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  8. Senior will take the blame and present himself as a dominant father figure who Jr did as he was told. he will be sentenced 5 yrs out in 2. thats how the system works!!

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  9. Some dumb fuks but at least they tried...

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  10. One word , ENTRAPMENT

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    1. No, not entrapment here, I'm afraid. They did it and thought they had the right to try it. So sorry about that.

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  11. I agree, it will be horrible if this spoiled kid gets out, what message does that send. They should not be afraid of taking on his appeals if they are attempting to send a message as they claim to be doing.

    But I don't know if I should be 100% pissed and offended by the offer or should we squeeze in a teeny, tiny drop of appreciation for creativity.

    Well doing research last night I found something on a court case log, and this kid was on it. In Veracruz. I can't tell if it is criminal but SEIDO was involved , from 13 months ago.

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  12. What a weird-ass proposal what was it design your own bail program at Austin court yesterday or what. No wonder the judge needed time to scratch his damn head for a while or bang it against the wall is more like it.

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  13. something that bothers me is the lack of reporting about the reo grande valley. from brownsville to loredo we have major mexican cartel activities going on but BB doesn't cover it. why not?
    from the monitor " In Gulf Cartel sweep, 13 face judge in McAllen " " 70 pounds of cocaine found on plane flying from McAllen " " More than 50 named in Texas drug case, including several in RGV ".

    from krgv tv " Undercover Operation Led to Woman's Arrest " "Agents Seize 98 Vehicles during Massive Raid " "31 Arrested in Drug Conspiracy Case"

    come on BB i love you guys and i think you owe it to your readers to report on the connections the cartels have to the USA.

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  14. Gardner's statements are so freaking stupid! the 25 year old kid is sitting in jail, for something "allegedly" did for love to his own father, and now Gardner says the boy said on the phone he wants to go to Playa to have drinks? big woop! he is 25 year old, of course he is dreaming of getting out of that shit hole and enjoy his life like any other kid his age would! what is the kid supposed to do? keep saying to his relatives on the phone how miserable he is and tell them he is going to be in jail for 5 years? of course he is trying to put on a brave face! what no one here is saying, is that according to Austin Statement, the are no recordings AT ALL during the first meeting, so no one actually knows who the driving force in the bribe was, could of been the cooperating sources the ones who presented the opportunity to Jr, and what could he have done? if he did go with it (because we dont know yet, no one has found him guilty) he didnt do anything everyone else would have done in his place, for love! and no one says he is an engineering student of the best University in Mexico, not everyone can get into this University, seriously, if this was a Harvard student with the greatest grades like Jr, everyone would be speaking differently.

    "Don't judge just because someone sin differently than you"

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    1. El panocho Colorado and his boy are one and the same,they had their fun,time to pay is here,pay...

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  15. You're right I've read a lot of those stories and have posted stories from the Monitor on the main page. I used to put many on the forum. I like those guys down there at the Monitor and KRGV. They are good reporters. As you know we concentrate on stories from all over Mexico and that does includes the border. I do try to spread my coverage out but there are just so many stories all the time.

    Like http://blog.chron.com/narcoconfidential/2013/10/houston-feds-charge-52-with-drug-conspiracy-read-the-indictment-here/.

    There are only so many slots for stories on BB the main page and there is usually a cue here as it is. We don't please anybody when we put on stories that have waited a long time in the cue cause they're old. And I get in trouble for "Roboposting." I take plenty of mine off if they're getting old and put 'em on the forum but they are there by then or http://narcobolo.blogspot.com/ So as not to waste them but that is wasting them cause only seven people know about my receptacle. I guess what I'm saying is it is a fine balance here at Borderland Beat. I'll make it a point to lookout for stories from that area - the valley- Brownsville to Laredo. There is no shortage. You're right. Thank you for your tip and for listening to me think out loud.

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  16. What happened to Carlos Nayen @chivis? Dids he get sentenced?

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  17. carlos' sentencing was postponed again. Something very unusual going on with him. H says he was surrounded by protection in court. he must have given up a lot, but honestly I wish he would have gone down big. he will have to be isolated, so maybe that is a greater punishment. Being alone 23 hours per day would drive most people crazy.

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  18. Both of these subjects were deported back to Mexico this week.

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