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Texas Tax Official Arrested for Operating Illegal Gambling
LAREDO, TEXAS --
After a two-year investigation, the Texas Attorney General's office arrested the Webb County Tax Assessor on charges related to illegal gambling. Patricia Barrera was indicted for promotion of gambling, possession of a gambling device, and keeping a gambling house.
Barrera and two other county employees are accused of running a raffle for profit. The tax collector is alleged to have run gambling operations from her office at Webb County headquarters.
Some county employees have testified Barrera ordered them to sell raffle tickets while on county time. County officials have sworn to expose any corruption, and promise zero tolerance.
"We've got to let the judicial process take its course. It’s unfortunate that this has to happen. Anyone is innocent until proven guilty," said Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza.
The arrest comes just hours after Texas legislators admitted new bills proposing legalizing gambling in Texas were headed for defeat.
Often, it will turn out that gaming expansions are opposed by those controlling existing gambling outlets, wanting to protect themselves from competition. The thought of Texas politicians running gambling rings from civic offices certainly causes a second glance at the foes of gambling in the legislature.
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