REF: State of Texas v. JOSE GUADALUPE GARZA, III

Cause No. 2009-CV-0289-A and 2009-CR-0133-A

SYNOPSIS:

The Willacy County and District Attorney's Office announced today that $250,000. was seized and forfeited to the State of Texas by Jose Guadalupe Garza, III, of Mission, TX. On June 1, 2009, Garza, III was driving a vehicle on US 77 when he was stopped by Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Hector Resendiz for a traffic violation. Trooper Resendiz noticed that Garza was extremely nervous when talking to him. Garza, III gave consent to search his vehicle. Six bundles of United States currency totaling $250,000. was hidden in the defendant's vehicle. The currency was wrapped in vacuum sealed bags.

Jose Guadalupe Garza, III was charged with money laundering. On August 13, 2009, the defendant pled guilty to money laundering in the 197th District Court to Judge Migdalia Lopez. The defendant was convicted and placed on felony probation until 2018 because he did not have any previous criminal convictions. If the defendant violates conditions of his probation he could be sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division. The defendant also agreed to forfeit the entire $250,000. The Texas Department of Public Safety will receive $175,000. of the forfeited currency and the Willacy County & District Attorney's Office will receive $75,000. The Willacy County & District Attorney's Office plans to use the money to help fund an investigator, crime victim's coordinator, and an attorney for the office.

The Willacy County and District Attorney's Office will aggressively prosecute crimes involving drug trafficking and money laundering and would like to thank the Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Andres Maldonado and Trooper Hector Resendiz for their participation on this case. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Bernard W. Ammerman and First Assistant District Attorney Scott Greenbaum.