10/31/2014
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A former Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace has been indicted on several corruption-related crimes weeks after he stepped down from office.
Records reveal that Ismael “Melo” Ochoa has been indicted on charges of bribery, engaging in organized criminal activity and money laundering charges.
The former Hidalgo County Pct. 3-2 Justice of the Peace appeared before Judge Noe Gonzalez in the 370th State District Court on Thursday morning.
Although his next court date was not immediately available, Ochoa was allowed to stay free on a personal recognizance bond.
A copy of the indictment reveals that Ochoa worked with Hargill-based drug trafficker Julio Armando Davila between September 2010 and June 2012.
Davila, who was reportedly working with a bail bond company at the time, bribed Ochoa to get bond reductions for his clients.
The Hargill drug trafficker has been linked to other corruption cases including his ex-girlfriend/former Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office investigator Aida Palacios as well as former Sheriff Lupe Treviño and his former commander Joe Padilla.
According to the indictment, Ochoa is accused of laundering between $20,000 and $100,000 dollars in profits from the bond reduction scheme.
Ochoa stepped down from office back on October 10th despite running unopposed in the November General Election.
His name must remain on the ballot but Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia said in a previous interiview that Ochoa agreed to decline the office after the results come in.
Former Peñitas Mayor Marcos Ochoa has been appointed as an interim justice of the peace.
Davila is expected to be sentenced for a federal drug trafficking case on November 13th.
Statement from Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia:
“I was extremely disappointed to hear of the criminal charges made against former Precinct 3, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Ismael “Melo” Ochoa.
As an elected official, I know that our constituents have entrusted us to put the community first and to do what is right. When this type of conduct takes hold, it destroys that sense of fairness critical for the rule of law to prevail. We must work even harder to not only regain the public’s trust, but to prove that we are worthy of it.
We have over 3,000 dedicated public servants in Hidalgo County – whether elected, appointed or hired as staff. The great majority are individuals of integrity.
As for Judge Ochoa, I wish him and his family well and will withhold further comment. I trust in our judicial system to see that justice prevails.”
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