A federal judge in El Paso sentenced former county commissioner Willie Gandara Jr. to 6.5 years in prison on drug charges. Gandara pleaded guilty this summer to warehousing more than 100 pounds marijuana on his property.
In the courtroom Wednesday, Gandara stood before Federal Judge Frank Montalvo and asked forgiveness from God, his family and the federal government.
His attorney, Joe Spencer, submitted letters in defense of Gandara's good works, including a letter from Gandara's 12-year-old daughter. But Judge Montalvo was not impressed and compared Gandara's charitable contributions to those of the infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.
Gandara was a commissioner for the southern region of El Paso County which is known for heavy smuggling activity. Gandara is a former mayor the City of Soccoro, just outside El Paso. Before his arrest earlier this year, Gandara was running for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives.
Multiple members of the Gandara family are in trouble with the law. Among them is his uncle, Jesus Gandara, who faces corruption charges as a former superintendent in Chula Vista, Calif.
