Defendant In Los Zetas Money Laundering Case, His Son, And A Business Associate Plead Guilty To Conspiring To Bribe A Federal Judge

In Austin, 53-year-old Veracruz, Mexico businessman Francisco Colorado Cessa, his son, 25–year-old Francisco Colorado Cessa, Jr., and a business associate, 52–year-old Ramon Segura Flores face up to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempting to bribe a federal judge announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steve McCollough. 

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin this morning, all three defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bribe a federal judge.  By pleading guilty, the defendants admitted to conspiring last year to pay a $1.2 million bribe to a federal judge in order to secure a reduced sentence for Colorado Cessa.  According to the criminal complaint filed in this case, at no time before or during this investigation was the judge involved in the alleged criminal activity.  Colorado Cessa is currently serving a 20-year federal prison term for his role in a complex scheme to launder millions of dollars in illicit Los Zetas drug trafficking proceeds to purchase, train, breed, and race American quarter horses in the United States. 

All three remain in federal custody at this time.  No sentencing date has been scheduled.

This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.