SAN ANTONIO — A former San Antonio-area senator has received his sentence related to money laundering and wire and securities fraud charges.
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In court on Tuesday, Carlos Uresti was sentenced to 12 years, with 3 years supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $6.3 million in restitution.
He has been granted the right to appeal in 14 days, which he said he plans to do. The court also allowed him to remain free for the time being on bond pending conclusion of another trial later this year.
"Never in your worst nightmare can you imagine this happening to you. It happened, I could stand here and tell you a million different reasons why I disagree with it, but again we're going to continue to fight it, we'll file an appeal timely and we'll see what the court of appeals decides," Uresti said.
"I believe it's an appropriate sentence, it's a fair sentence, the court gave consideration to the status of the defendant. The things that he's done but also the victims and the things that they've suffered. I believe it was an appropriate outcome given all the circumstances in this case," said Asst. US Attorney Joe Blackwell.
Uresti resigned from office last week.
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He provided general counsel for FourWinds Logistics, a company that prosecutors say operated a Ponzi scheme against its investors. The fracking sand company went bankrupt in 2015.
In court filings, prosecutors say the court should demonstrate that "no one is above the law" and sentence Uresti to at least 17 ½ years in prison.
But Uresti's attorneys sought leniency, arguing that the 54-year-old Uresti "engaged in a lifetime of charity and civic work on a level that is almost breathtaking."