Former Culberson County Justice of the Peace Arrested on Federal Mail Fraud and Money Laundering Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office May 18, 2010 |
United States Attorney John E. Murphy and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge David Cuthbertson announced that former Culberson County Precinct One Justice of the Peace Oscar Espinoza, Sr. stands charged with eight counts of mail fraud and five counts of money laundering.
FBI agents arrested Espinoza yesterday. During his initial appearance in El Paso, United States Magistrate Judge Richard Mesa set bond at $10,000. Arraignment is scheduled for May 26, 2010, before Judge Mesa.
The indictment, returned last Wednesday by a federal grand jury in El Paso, alleges that beginning in 2007 and continuing through December 2009, Espinoza cashed checks and money orders totaling more than $1,000 that were received for payments of fines in Culberson County and used the money for personal benefit.
Upon conviction, Espinoza faces up to five years' imprisonment on the mail fraud charges and up to 20 years' imprisonment per each money laundering charge.
This case is being investigated by agents with Federal Bureau of Investigation.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.