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 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 remained free on bond until his sentencing on June 28. He appealed the verdict and remained temporarily 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.

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> A week later, Uresti was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Uresti will appeal the sentence.<ref name=ksat>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksat.com/news/former-state-sen-uresti-to-be-sentenced-in-fraud-case-on-tuesday|title=Former State Sen. Carlos Uresti sentenced to 12 years in prison: Uresti found guilty of eleven felonies relating to fraud, money laundering|publisher=KSAT Television|author=Ben Spicer|date=June 26, 2018|accessdate=June 29, 2018}}</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> A week later, Uresti was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Uresti will appeal the sentence.<ref name=ksat>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksat.com/news/former-state-sen-uresti-to-be-sentenced-in-fraud-case-on-tuesday|title=Former State Sen. Carlos Uresti sentenced to 12 years in prison: Uresti found guilty of eleven felonies relating to fraud, money laundering|publisher=KSAT Television|author=Ben Spicer|date=June 26, 2018|accessdate=June 29, 2018}}</ref>

U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled that Uresti could remain free on bond until the conclusion of a federal bribery charge in Reeves County. That trial is scheduled to begin on October 28, 2018. Meanwhile, eight persons, including Uresti's brother, Tomas Uresti, and Republican Peter Flores are running to become Uresti's successor.<ref name=ksat/>

U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled that Uresti could remain free on bond until the conclusion of a federal bribery charge in Reeves County. That trial is scheduled to begin on October 28, 2018. Meanwhile, eight persons, including Uresti's brother, Tomas Uresti, liberal state Representative Roland Gutierrez, former U.S. Representative Pete Galego, former congressional candidate Charles Urbina Jones, and Republican Peter Flores are running to become Uresti's successor.<ref name=ksat/>

==References==

==References==