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Press Release

Son And Business Associate Of Defendant In Los Zetas Money Laundering Case Sentenced To Federal Prison For Conspiring To Bribe A Federal Judge

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas

In Austin, 26–year-old Francisco Agustin Colorado Cebado (aka “Panchito”) and 52–year-old Ramon Segura Flores were each sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for attempting to bribe a federal judge announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steve McCollough.

On March 12, 2004, the defendants, along with Francisco’s father, 53-year-old Veracruz, Mexico businessman Francisco Antonio Colorado Cessa (aka “Pancho”), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bribe a federal judge.  All three admitted to conspiring last year to pay a $1.2 million bribe to a federal judge in order to secure a reduced sentence for Colorado-Cessa in a related court case.  According to court records, at no time before or during this investigation was the judge involved in the alleged criminal activity. 

Colorado Cebado and Segura Flores have remained in federal custody since their arrest on September 5, 2013.  Both face deportation proceedings upon completion of their respective sentences.

Sentencing for Colorado Cessa, who faces up to five years in federal prison on the attempted bribery charge, is scheduled for October 20, 2014.  Colorado Cessa is currently serving a 20-year federal prison term for his role in a complex scheme to launder millions of dollars in illicit Los Zetas drug trafficking proceeds to purchase, train, breed, and race American quarter horses in the United States. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.  

Updated December 15, 2014