Eugenio Hernandez Flores, the former governor of a Mexican border state, was arrested earlier this month in Tamaulipas on charges of misuse of public funds and use of illicit funds. Now, federal prosecutors in the U.S. are officially asking the Mexican government to hand over the former governor so Flores can face charges on this side of the border.
The U.S. alleges that Flores took bribes as part of a state contracting kickback scheme, while he was governor of Tamaulipas, and then laundered the money in the United States via wire transfers and real estate deals. He faces additional charges of operating an unauthorized money transmitting business and bank fraud.
Jason Buch reports on immigration and the border for the San Antonio Express-News. He says it’s not surprising to Mexican observers that a state governor would face corruption charges. Other Mexican officials who have been accused of corruption in their own country have also faced charges in Texas, often for money laundering.
Written by Shelly Brisbin.
