Changes

Shortly after the convictions, Mrs. Uresti filed for divorce on the basis of adultery that came to light in the  securities case against her husband. Uribe's chief accuser, Denise Cantu of Harlingen in south Texas, obtained a $2.5 million settlement for the deaths of two of her children in an automobile accident in 2010. She then invested $900,000 of that amount with FourWinds and said that she did not understand that Uresti was personally benefiting from her investment. At first Cantu told police that there had been no romantic interlude with Uresti; then she changed her story: and claimed that he had pursued her for sexual favors and boated of the size of his penis.  Uresti denied the claims and questioned Cantu's credibility on the basis of her having charged him after first saying that there was no relationship. Then, on February 28, 2018, two more women came forward to charge Uresti with sexual harassment; one of them is Jenn Cervella, a data director for the Texas Democratic Party who first met Uresti in 2015. Throughout the trial, Mrs. Uresti had accompanied her husband to and from court and embraced him upon learning of his conviction in the five-week trial.<ref name=dannerandcontreras>"Sen. Uresti's wife files for divorce," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 3, 2018, pp. 1, A7.</ref>

Shortly after the convictions, Mrs. Uresti filed for divorce on the basis of adultery that came to light in the  securities case against her husband. Uribe's chief accuser, Denise Cantu of Harlingen in south Texas, obtained a $2.5 million settlement for the deaths of two of her children in an automobile accident in 2010. She then invested $900,000 of that amount with FourWinds and said that she did not understand that Uresti was personally benefiting from her investment. At first Cantu told police that there had been no romantic interlude with Uresti; then she changed her story: and claimed that he had pursued her for sexual favors and boated of the size of his penis.  Uresti denied the claims and questioned Cantu's credibility on the basis of her having charged him after first saying that there was no relationship. Then, on February 28, 2018, two more women came forward to charge Uresti with sexual harassment; one of them is Jenn Cervella, a data director for the Texas Democratic Party who first met Uresti in 2015. Throughout the trial, Mrs. Uresti had accompanied her husband to and from court and embraced him upon learning of his conviction in the five-week trial.<ref name=dannerandcontreras>"Sen. Uresti's wife files for divorce," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 3, 2018, pp. 1, A7.</ref>

Uresti remains free on bond pending sentencing in June. He faces up to twelve years in incarceration and millions of dollars in restitution. He has vowed to appeal the verdict and remains for the time being a state senator.<ref name=dannerandcontreras/> Federal prosecutors said Uresti will likely owe more than $3 million in restitution to victims of his criminal fraud. They also claim the divorce is an effort to protect funds.<ref>Patrick Danner, "Uresti could owe victims of fraud $3 million: Prosecutors say divorce is a bid to protect funds," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 9, 2018, pp. 1, A20.</ref> Uresti and co-defendant Gary Cain are seeking a new trial based on their contention that Judge David Ezra erred in giving instructions to the jury. Uresti questions the disqualification of Mikal Watts as the lawmaker's first attorney, He further claims that Judge Ezra made "a multitude of public statements that appear to be heavily biased" against Uresti's presumed innocence.<ref>Patrick Danner, "Uresti, Cain cite judge, seek new trial," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 10, 2018, pp. B1, B5.</ref>   

Uresti remains free on bond pending sentencing on June 28. He faces up to twelve years in incarceration and millions of dollars in restitution. He appealed the verdict and remains for the time being a state senator.<ref name=dannerandcontreras/> Federal prosecutors said Uresti will likely owe more than $3 million in restitution to victims of his criminal fraud. They also claim the divorce is an effort to protect funds.<ref>Patrick Danner, "Uresti could owe victims of fraud $3 million: Prosecutors say divorce is a bid to protect funds," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 9, 2018, pp. 1, A20.</ref> Uresti and co-defendant Gary Cain are seeking a new trial based on their contention that Judge David Ezra erred in giving instructions to the jury. Uresti questions the disqualification of Mikal Watts as the lawmaker's first attorney, He further claims that Judge Ezra made "a multitude of public statements that appear to be heavily biased" against Uresti's presumed innocence.<ref>Patrick Danner, "Uresti, Cain cite judge, seek new trial," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 10, 2018, pp. B1, B5.</ref>   

Two of Uresti's brothers are active in San Antonio Democratic  politics: Albert Uresti ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 2006 and was elected Tax Assessor-Collector for Bexar County in 2012. Tomas Uresti is until January 2019 the state representative for the District 118 seat once held by Carlos Uresti himself. Tomas Uresti was unseated in the Democratic [[primary election]] held on March 6, 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tomas_Uresti|title=Tomas Uresti|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=March 4, 2018}}</ref> and leaves that position in January 2019.

Two of Uresti's brothers are active in San Antonio Democratic  politics: Albert Uresti ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 2006 and was elected Tax Assessor-Collector for Bexar County in 2012. Tomas Uresti is until January 2019 the state representative for the District 118 seat once held by Carlos Uresti himself. Tomas Uresti was unseated in the Democratic [[primary election]] held on March 6, 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tomas_Uresti|title=Tomas Uresti|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=March 4, 2018}}</ref> and leaves that position in January 2019.

After their wedding, Carlos and Lleanna Uresti built a $1.8 million house located on three acres at Helotes Creek Ranch in southwestern San Antonio.<ref name=dannerandcontreras/>

After their wedding, Carlos and Lleanna Uresti built a $1.8 million house located on three acres at Helotes Creek Ranch in southwestern San Antonio.<ref name=dannerandcontreras/>

Should Uresti step down from the state Senate, a special election will be held to choose a successor. [[Republican Party|Republican]] Pete Flores, a retired game warden from Pleasanton in Wilson County who lost to Uresti in the 2016 general election, has indicated that he will again seek the position if there is a special election in 2018. But Flores would face daunting prospects from the internally Democratic nature of District 19. Two Democrats expected to run are former [[U.S. Representative]] Pete Gallego of Alpine and state Representative Roland Gutierez of San Antonio.<ref>Gilbert Garcia, "GOP has special-election hopes for seat held by Uresti", ''San Antonio Express News'', March 11, 2018, p. 2.</ref>

Should Uresti step down from the state Senate, a special election will be held to choose a successor. [[Republican Party|Republican]] Pete Flores, a retired game warden from Pleasanton in Wilson County who lost to Uresti in the 2016 general election, has indicated that he will again seek the position if there is a special election in 2018. But Flores would face daunting prospects from the internally Democratic nature of District 19. Two Democrats expected to run are former [[U.S. Representative]] Pete Gallego, a former state representative from Alpine, and current state Representative Roland Gutierez of San Antonio.<ref>Gilbert Garcia, "GOP has special-election hopes for seat held by Uresti", ''San Antonio Express News'', March 11, 2018, p. 2.</ref><ref>Jasper Scherer, "Pair of Democrats aim for Uresti's Senate seat", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 7, 2018, pp. 1, A11.</ref>

On March 23, 2018, Uresti surrendered his license to practice law to avoid disciplinary action from the state bar. Had he not resigned from the law practice, he would have been automatically disbarred from his practice of more than twenty-five years upon his sentencing pending on June 28.<ref>Patrick Danner, "Uresti no longer holds law license", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 14, 2018, p. 1.</ref> On April 6, 2018, U.S. District Judge David Ezra denied Uresti's request for a motion of dismissal and for a new trial as well. Judge Ezra ruled that Uresti was "subjectively aware of the illegal conduct" surrounding FourWinds Logistics.<ref>Patrick Danner and Gillermo Contreras, "Judge denies Uresti's request: State senator sought new criminal trial, ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 6, 2018, p. B1.</ref>

On March 23, 2018, Uresti surrendered his license to practice law to avoid disciplinary action from the state bar. Had he not resigned from the law practice, he would have been automatically disbarred from his practice of more than twenty-five years upon his sentencing pending on June 28.<ref>Patrick Danner, "Uresti no longer holds law license", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 14, 2018, p. 1.</ref> On April 6, 2018, U.S. District Judge David Ezra denied Uresti's request for a motion of dismissal and for a new trial as well. Judge Ezra ruled that Uresti was "subjectively aware of the illegal conduct" surrounding FourWinds Logistics.<ref>Patrick Danner and Gillermo Contreras, "Judge denies Uresti's request: State senator sought new criminal trial, ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 6, 2018, p. B1.</ref>