McALLEN, Texas (AP) - The former chief of staff to former Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino (treh-VEEN’-yoh) has pleaded guilty to a federal count of misprision of a felony for failing to report a crime.
A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office in McAllen says Maria Patricia Medina entered her plea Friday and could be sentenced to up to three years in federal prison July 3. The statement says the 40-year-old former top staffer also could be fined up to $250,000.
According to the statement, investigators found Trevino, in 2011 and 2012, received cash donations from a suspected drug trafficker. The statement says Medina, as chief of staff and campaign treasurer, admitted helping Trevino conceal the donations by falsifying election records.
Trevino, who hasn’t been charged with any crime, resigned March 28.
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