SAN ANTONIO — A law firm employee, Elpidio “Pete” Gongora, who allegedly stole money from clients, evaded paying more than $1 million in taxes, and hid assets from a bankruptcy court, was indicted in federal court, officials said.
A 16-count indictment charges 46–year-old Gongora with five counts of mail fraud, five counts of bankruptcy fraud, one count of tax evasion and five counts of aggravated identity theft, according to authorities.
If convicted, Gongora is facing more than 30 years in prison, officials stated.
According to the indictment, from 2009 through 2014, Gongora operated the law offices of several personal injury attorneys in the city of San Antonio and elsewhere in Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico.
The indictment alleges that Gongora stole money from these attorneys and their clients when he failed to pay money owed to clients under settlement agreements or pay obligations for medical treatment and physical therapy.
Also the indictment alleges that Gongora and his co-actors illegally endorsed personal injury settlement checks and would hide from the attorneys his failure to pay the clients their full case settlement proceeds.
In 2013, Gongora and his wife filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in the Western District of Texas.
The indictment alleges that Gongora failed to disclose to the Bankruptcy Trustee that he owned personal assets that included:
- A 33-foot Chris Craft cabin cruiser
- A 29-foot 2005 Seaswirl boat
- A 2005 Ford F- 150 truck
- Real property located in San Antonio
- A residence located in Aransas Pass, TX.
- Gongora willfully attempted to evade paying over $1 million in taxes owed to the IRS for the years 2003 through 2005 and 2007 through 2013, the indictment alleges.
Gongora remains in federal custody following his arrest at the San Antonio International Airport last month, officials said.