by Jim Barton on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 4:39am
Recently deceased Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was rightfully terminated for looking the other way during two decades of sexual abuse of young boys by a Penn State assistant coach. Paterno's job was to win football games while educating, nurturing and protecting young men, putting them in a position to succeed in life. He did all but one of those things, but his failure to protect the most precious of all assets, the children, was his undoing.
Charlie Cabler and Robert C. Luna's roles in our community differ from Paterno's but have a substantial effect on the well-being of Brownsville. Between them, they oversee, coordinate and disperse the precious monetary assets of one of the most impoverished cities in our nation. The margin for error in this ever-growing city of nearly 200,000 is as thin as ice on a 31 degree pond. Cabler and Luna oversee the contracts that go out for bids as well as routine insurance claims for city employees, millions of dollars.
Two critical matters were discussed during executive session 1/24/12 at the City Commission. Point A on the agenda was a matter involving Bank of America. Point B involved reaching a settlement agreement with Matamoros/Brownsville dentist Dr. Oziel Davila Robles.
The exact specifics of the settlement remain confidential, but no one seems to be denying reports that fraudulent claims for city employees totaling $400,000 were run up over a period of at least 3 years involving the Matamoros dentist. If you think that City Manager Charlie Cabler is not aware of such claims, please understand that he is the final decision maker on all such claims before they go to an arbitration process. This matters fits precisely within his job description as City Manager.
Robert C. Luna has a role here too as the city's Purchasing Manager. The persistant rumor that Robert Luna and Dr. Oziel Davila Robles are "tight" is extremely disturbing. If reports are true, the city is willing to settle the fraud for approximately $70,000, which would represent a recovery of 17 cents on the dollar.
When you google Dr. Oziel Davila Robles the address that most frequently comes up is 1905 Illinois Ave, Brownsville, TX.
As shown in the picture that address is a tiny cubicle in a rundown strip mall anchored by Kozy Korner Koin Laundry. Checking with other businesses in the area, no one recalls a dentistry to ever operate there. That location is simply a cover, a front.
Dr. Davila's real place of business is Dental Imagen, Margaritas Street #11 Col Jardin, Matamoros, TA. While some have expressed the difficulty of securing records from Mexico, it is obvious that the primary insurance records are with the City of Brownsville. Recovering those should not be difficult at all. Some have speculated that Dr. Davila may have diverted the fraudulently received funds to purchase a local nightclub. His financial presence in that club and any assets should be recovered to satisfy this settlement.
Whether this is a case of calabaza-driven dishonesty or simply shoddy performance of duties, this mismanagment of city assets should not simply be swept under the rug. Our money strapped city and its citizens deserve better.
ADDENDUM: The commission vote last night broke right down the middle with Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa, Melissa Hernandez-Zamora and Estela Chavez-Vasquez voting against the settlement and Rose Gowen, John Villarreal and Ricardo Longoria voting for it. Mayor Tony Martinez gleefully stated "Well, I guess I will break the tie." Speculation is that those voting for the settlement likely followed the advice of City Attorney Mark Sossi. "Better to get something than nothing" and "the guy could just run to Mexico" are possible arguments for settling at 17 cents on the dollar. Of course, an option could have been to table until a thorough examination is concluded, but that would likely involve some action against the above-mentioned city officials. I attended the meeting, but was not allowed to speak as there was no public comment on the action item. For the regular public comment period, no one signed up. Of course, those comments cannot be about an agenda item. So Sossi and Martinez had the citizens where they want them.
Also, a commenter noted that the tiny office I took a picture of at 1905 Illinois Ave was one of those independent mail box facilities. So, it's obvious that Dr. Davila simply got his mail there with his entire actual practice being in Matamoros. That address is listed at his place of doing business on those listings and registries that show where one can find dentists in their area.
Charlie Cabler and Robert C. Luna's roles in our community differ from Paterno's but have a substantial effect on the well-being of Brownsville. Between them, they oversee, coordinate and disperse the precious monetary assets of one of the most impoverished cities in our nation. The margin for error in this ever-growing city of nearly 200,000 is as thin as ice on a 31 degree pond. Cabler and Luna oversee the contracts that go out for bids as well as routine insurance claims for city employees, millions of dollars.
Two critical matters were discussed during executive session 1/24/12 at the City Commission. Point A on the agenda was a matter involving Bank of America. Point B involved reaching a settlement agreement with Matamoros/Brownsville dentist Dr. Oziel Davila Robles.
The exact specifics of the settlement remain confidential, but no one seems to be denying reports that fraudulent claims for city employees totaling $400,000 were run up over a period of at least 3 years involving the Matamoros dentist. If you think that City Manager Charlie Cabler is not aware of such claims, please understand that he is the final decision maker on all such claims before they go to an arbitration process. This matters fits precisely within his job description as City Manager.
Robert C. Luna has a role here too as the city's Purchasing Manager. The persistant rumor that Robert Luna and Dr. Oziel Davila Robles are "tight" is extremely disturbing. If reports are true, the city is willing to settle the fraud for approximately $70,000, which would represent a recovery of 17 cents on the dollar.
When you google Dr. Oziel Davila Robles the address that most frequently comes up is 1905 Illinois Ave, Brownsville, TX.
As shown in the picture that address is a tiny cubicle in a rundown strip mall anchored by Kozy Korner Koin Laundry. Checking with other businesses in the area, no one recalls a dentistry to ever operate there. That location is simply a cover, a front.
Dr. Davila's real place of business is Dental Imagen, Margaritas Street #11 Col Jardin, Matamoros, TA. While some have expressed the difficulty of securing records from Mexico, it is obvious that the primary insurance records are with the City of Brownsville. Recovering those should not be difficult at all. Some have speculated that Dr. Davila may have diverted the fraudulently received funds to purchase a local nightclub. His financial presence in that club and any assets should be recovered to satisfy this settlement.
Whether this is a case of calabaza-driven dishonesty or simply shoddy performance of duties, this mismanagment of city assets should not simply be swept under the rug. Our money strapped city and its citizens deserve better.
ADDENDUM: The commission vote last night broke right down the middle with Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa, Melissa Hernandez-Zamora and Estela Chavez-Vasquez voting against the settlement and Rose Gowen, John Villarreal and Ricardo Longoria voting for it. Mayor Tony Martinez gleefully stated "Well, I guess I will break the tie." Speculation is that those voting for the settlement likely followed the advice of City Attorney Mark Sossi. "Better to get something than nothing" and "the guy could just run to Mexico" are possible arguments for settling at 17 cents on the dollar. Of course, an option could have been to table until a thorough examination is concluded, but that would likely involve some action against the above-mentioned city officials. I attended the meeting, but was not allowed to speak as there was no public comment on the action item. For the regular public comment period, no one signed up. Of course, those comments cannot be about an agenda item. So Sossi and Martinez had the citizens where they want them.
Also, a commenter noted that the tiny office I took a picture of at 1905 Illinois Ave was one of those independent mail box facilities. So, it's obvious that Dr. Davila simply got his mail there with his entire actual practice being in Matamoros. That address is listed at his place of doing business on those listings and registries that show where one can find dentists in their area.
The place in the picture looks like where the Korner Market is located. It's nothing more than a P.O. Box rental. Go ask Mr. Owen, the owner.
ReplyDeleteI don't doubt that at all, but that is the address given on at least 10 internet sites for Dr. Davila's office. It may just be where he received his mail.
DeleteJim
Public info request
ReplyDeleteCumulative dollar amount for all submitted claims, by provider, by year
And guess where all the money went???
ReplyDeleteSOB!!! The more I get to know humans, the more I love my dog!!
I thought that they were suppose to have certificate of occupancy to do business with the City of Brownsville or a least that's what they told the lady that was bidding on a contract.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the address was only a mailbox facility where Dr. Davila received his mail. His practice was entirely in Matamoros.
DeleteJim
Disgusting! If you don't prosecute they get bolder. Look at BISD.
ReplyDeleteSo did the dentist actually do some work for the city? Did he treat any city employees at all? Are you saying that he over-billed for services?
ReplyDeleteI also attended the meeting and was able to hear John Villarreal's post-meeting statements. He said that this dentist billed for services that were never provided. Mr. Villarreal's reasoning for voting the way he did seems to be that, "..all the records are in Matamoros so we can't get to those." I was very surprised by his logic. I don't understand why the actions of this dentist do not qualify, in the eyes of the city, as theft.
ReplyDeleteAny candidate dumb enough to give Cheezmeh their money deserved to lose.
ReplyDelete