Sentences Stemming from Collection Contract Bribe are Handed Down

In consecutive hearings that lasted until 7 p.m. Wednesday, U.S. District Judge W. Royal Furgeson ended a case that dragged through the federal system for almost three years.

The judge sentenced former (San Antonio) City Councilman Enrique “Kike” Martin to federal prison for 13 months; John Sanders, who served on the same council as Martin, to 15 months; San Antonio lawyer H. Jack Pytel Jr. to nine months; and Edinburg attorney Juan Peña to 30 months. All except Martin will report to prison June 15.

The judge also fined Peña $1 million. Prosecutors said he has a net worth of $14.8 million.

Besides conspiracy to commit bribery, Peña admitted committing bank fraud when he helped Pytel obtain a $25,000 loan from a branch of the Lone Star National Bank in the Rio Grande Valley.

Peña, who served on the lender’s board of directors, vouched for Pytel when he told the bank the loan was for medical expenses when at least part of it was for the councilmen.

Peña bankrolled the bribes of Martin and Sanders to rig a lucrative city contract that eventually went to a firm Peña was a partner in: The Austin-based tax-collection monolith then known as Linebarger Goggan Blair Peña & Sampson.

For this complete story, please visit Sentences Stemming from Collection Contract Bribe are Handed Down.