Ex-Mexico Official’s US Property May be Seized

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Texas and U.S. authorities are trying to seize $20 million worth of properties from the former treasurer of the Mexican border state of Coahuila. Hector Javier Villarreal is wanted on charges of money laundering and engaging in organized criminal activity in Bexar County.

The former Mexican government official had been in custody in Smith County earlier this year, but the U.S. State Department ordered his release following a Tyler traffic stop. With him at the time was his wife Maria Teresita Botello, 28.

Smith County sheriff’s deputies arrested the couple in early February, and federal officials transported them from the Smith County Jail to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, or ICE, of Homeland Security in Dallas. After their arrest, the State Department ordered their release. Smith County Sheriff, J.B. Smith said, in regards to the release, that some people just make mistakes and the paperwork to keep the fugitives was not received in time.

Authorities say Villarreal bought a strip mall, a 4,000-square-foot home, a storage center and other San Antonio properties with embezzled money. In Mexico, he’s accused of falsifying documents to borrow $222 million on the state’s credit — then shuffling the money to relatives in the United States. The San Antonio Express-News reports that federal prosecutors filed lawsuits last week seeking forfeiture of a dozen properties. Authorities also are seeking forfeiture of properties owned by Villarreal’s relatives in the Rio Grande Valley. His whereabouts are unknown.