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| image=
| image=
| office=Texas State Senator for District 19
| office=Texas State Senator for District 19
| term_start = November 2006
| term_start=November 2006
| term_end=June 19, 2018 (resignation)
| preceded=Frank Lloyd Madla, Jr.
| preceded=Frank Lloyd Madla, Jr.
| succeeded =
| succeeded =Pending special election on July 31, 2018
|office2=Texas State Representative<br>for District 118 (Bexar County)
|office2=Texas State Representative<br>for District 118 (Bexar County)
| term_start2=January 1997
| term_start2=January 1997
}}
}}
'''Carlos Ismael Uresti, Sr.''', known as '''Charlie Uresti''' (born September 18, 1963), is an [[United States|American]] [[attorney]], [[business]]man, and a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] politician from his native [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]. Since 2006, he has represented the geographically large District 19 in the Texas State Senate, which encompasses nearly a third of the [[United States]] border with [[Mexico]]. From 1997 to 2006, he represented District 118 in the Texas House of Representatives. On five occasions, he was named "Legislator of the Year."
'''Carlos Ismael Uresti, Sr.''', known as '''Charlie Uresti''' (born September 18, 1963), is an [[United States|American]] [[attorney]], [[business]]man, and a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] politician from his native [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]. From 2006 to 2018, he represented the geographically large District 19 in the Texas State Senate, which encompasses nearly a third of the [[United States]] border with [[Mexico]]. From 1997 to 2006, he represented District 118 in the Texas House of Representatives. On five occasions, the popular [[liberal]] was named "Legislator of the Year."
However, his fortunes sunk with eleven federal felony convictions in February 2018. He was found guilty of involvement in a [[Ponzi scheme]] that defrauded investors in an oilfield company, FourWinds Logistics.<ref>https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Jury-reaches-verdict-in-state-Sen-Carlos-12627740.php
However, his fortunes sunk with eleven federal felony convictions in February 2018. He was found guilty of involvement in a [[Ponzi scheme]] that defrauded investors in an oilfield company, FourWinds Logistics.<ref>https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Jury-reaches-verdict-in-state-Sen-Carlos-12627740.php
In 2012, Uresti married the former Margaret Lleanna Elizondo (born c. 1975), a woman twelve years his junior and a former elementary school counselor and a [[real estate]] agent who was divorced from Joel Rodriguez/ Uresit was her attorney in the divorce. The ceremony was performed by Judge Orlando Garcia at the exclusive Kendall Plantation east of Boerne in Kendall County. The wedding was one of "glamour, glitz, elegance, and romance," consistent with Uribe's interest in the 1972 Marlon Brando and Mario Puzo mobster film, ''[[The Godfather]]''. She brought two children into the marriage, Sebastian and Katalina. Uresti himself has two grown sons, Michael and Carlos, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carlosuresti.com/pressreleases/sen-uresti-weds-sunday-ceremony|title=Sen. Uresti weds in Sunday ceremony|publisher=Carlosuresti.com|date=June 24, 2012|accessdate=March 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name=dannerandcontreras/>
In 2012, Uresti married the former Margaret Lleanna Elizondo (born c. 1975), a woman twelve years his junior and a former elementary school counselor and a [[real estate]] agent who was divorced from Joel Rodriguez/ Uresit was her attorney in the divorce. The ceremony was performed by Judge Orlando Garcia at the exclusive Kendall Plantation east of Boerne in Kendall County. The wedding was one of "glamour, glitz, elegance, and romance," consistent with Uribe's interest in the 1972 Marlon Brando and Mario Puzo mobster film, ''[[The Godfather]]''. She brought two children into the marriage, Sebastian and Katalina. Uresti himself has two grown sons, Michael and Carlos, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carlosuresti.com/pressreleases/sen-uresti-weds-sunday-ceremony|title=Sen. Uresti weds in Sunday ceremony|publisher=Carlosuresti.com|date=June 24, 2012|accessdate=March 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name=dannerandcontreras/>
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 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>
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>
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>
On June 19, 2018, Uresti resigned his state Senate seat. [[Governor]] [[Greg Abbott]] called a special election for July 31 to fill the five months remaining in the term. Among the candidates seeking to succeed Uribe is Peter Flores, a Republican. Uresti had urged that the seat remain vacant pending a special election for November 6, the date of the national congressional elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2018/06/20/gov-abbott-calls-for-july-election-to-fill-state.html|title=Gov. Abbott calls for July election to fill state senate seat|publisher=''San Antonio Business Journal''|author=Sergio Chapa|date=June 20, 2018|accessdate=June 21, 2018}}</ref>
==References==
==References==
[[Category:State Senators]]
[[Category:State Senators]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Criminals]]
[[Category:Criminals]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps]]