February 21, 2019 600 AM
PECOS – Carlos Eduardo Nieto and Lorenzo Padilla Hernandez were sentenced to prison on Tuesday for their public corruption crimes.
In Pecos federal court, Nieto received a prison sentence of two years and five months in federal prison, and Hernandez received a sentence of two years.
The two men had faced up to 20 years in federal prison.
Nieto was a former Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Presidio and former Presidio Independent School District trustee and board president.
Hernandez was the Precinct 3 County Commissioner.
The two men pleded guilty on October 23, 2018 to federal public corruption charges that included wire fraud, mail fraud, and deprivation of honest services.
It was an FBI sting that took down Nieto and Hernandez. The two county officials accepted $8,300 and $19,800 in bribes, respectively, in exchange for influencing the county to choose a specific company’s document management system. Hernandez voted as commissioner to give the sting company set up by the FBI the contract after receiving his bribe.
In addition to serving 30 months, Nieto will also be required to pay back the $8,300 he accepted in bribes, pay a $10,000 fine, and face 3 years probation. Nieto’s representation, attorney Joe Spencer, has asked that Nieto serve his 30 months at La Tuna, a minimum-security federal correctional institution in Anthony, Texas, just outside of El Paso.
Hernandez’s sentencing resulted in 24 months to be served, with his lawyer requesting the time be served at the minimum-security Federal Correction Institution in Big Spring. He will also face 3 years probation, restitution of $19,800, and a $10,000 fine.
Both men must surrender themselves to the court in 60 days.
