In The Bag: Campaign contributions from known drug trafficker remains in Sheriff’s bank account

01.16.14

A complaint filed Monday with The Texas Ethics Commission alleges Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino violated the law when he deposited two $5,000 cash contributions from a known drug trafficker.

Trevino's campaign finance report documents the contributions by Tomas Gonzalez who is also known as "El Gallo."

Gonzalez was recently indicted on drug conspiracy charges along with former Hidalgo County commander Jose Padilla.

Private Investigator Robert Caples, who is also the former political opponent of Trevino, said he filed the complaint after learning about the contributions.

"The problem with accepting cash donations is that there is a cap on how much cash you can accept as a candidate, that is a hundred dollars," Caples said. "Anything over is a class A misdemeanor."

Padilla hand delivered the cash contributions to Sheriff Trevino.

Trevino tells Action 4 News he didn't want the money.

He declined an on-camera interview but did provide a statement regarding the issue.

"The only way to return the funds was to put it into an account and return it," he said. "I did it for the right and honorable reasons."

Trevino said he followed the advice of Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra.

"At least you made it public and you have a record that you tried to deliver the money back to the individual who allegedly gave you the money," he said about the advice.

Action 4 News asked Guerra if he planned to prosecute Trevino for breaking the law.

"If he had taken the money and spent it, then clearly there would be a violation," Guerra said.

Caples maintains the donation is a clear violation of the law even if Trevino attempted to return it.

Sheriff Trevino said he attempted to return the money by delivering a check to Gonzalez, but that check has yet to be cashed.

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