U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Texas
Johnny Sutton, U.S. Attorney
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Shana Jones, Special Assistant Daryl Fields, Public Information Officer |
EL PASO ATTORNEY PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD
United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced today that 51-year-old Raymond Telles, of El Paso, Texas, was charged by Information with two counts of Conspiracy to commit Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud and the Deprivation of Honest Services. Appearing in federal court this afternoon, Mr. Telles pleaded guilty to the charges contained in the Information.
By pleading guilty to count one, Telles admitted to conspiring with others to devise a scheme to defraud the Socorro Independent School District (SISD) and the citizens of El Paso living in the SISD of the right to honest services of elected SISD Trustees in the affairs of the SISD. It further alleges that the defendant attempted to bribe the elected Trustees of SISD, in exchange for their support and vote in their official capacity as SISD Trustees, in violation of their fiduciary duty as elected SISD Trustees, for agreements between SISD and vendors seeking business with the SISD.
By pleading guilty to count two, Telles admitted to conspiring with others to devise a scheme to defraud the County of El Paso and the citizens of the County of El Paso of the right to the honest services of elected members of the El Paso County Commissioner’s Court, in the affairs of El Paso County by also attempting to bribe members of the El Paso County Commissioner’s Court for their support and vote in their official capacity as members of the El Paso County Commissioner’s Court.
Telles faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine per count. No sentencing date has been scheduled.
This is an ongoing investigation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Debra Kanof.