Trifecta of Stealing, Lying, Unethical Behavior Rewarded

Mean Mister Brownsville

From the editor:  Our previous article mentioned a "climate of corruption" existing in Brownsville.  That corruption not only permeates the county judicial system, but county government, BISD and the Port of Brownsville certainly hire and promote based on staying in family or in house, and the favors include not prosecuting the corruption that surfaces because it will touch the family of a politician or because any investigation will potentially embarrass others in control.  Brownsville and Cameron County not only suffers because proven crooks, thieves and liars still have access to funds and control, but because our region, one of the poorest in the United States,  could absolutely benefit by leadership with integrity, training and skills.  The followup story below cites three examples of corruption, deception and dishonesty not only unpunished, but rewarded in our community, doubtlessly contributing to our area's unhealthy, ugly aura.

Jason Hilts

Jason Hilts was hired by the City of Brownsville in March of 2002 as Economic Development Officer for a salary of $80,000, benefits and a $500 monthly gas allowance.  Despite the generous salary and benefits, Hilts betrayed our city's trust by using his BEDC credit card, charging thousands of dollars of personal items; clothing, jewelry, even a thousand dollar silver clock.

How were these thefts handled?  Hilts was internally "disciplined" and incredulously rewarded by being named the CEO of BEDC.  Perhaps, Hilts' education, skill set and job performance merited such thief coddling?  Hell no!  Hilts has no degree or background in economic development and his success in attracting new business or enhancing existing business has been zero, nada, zilch!  Not surprisingly for this incorrigibly corrupt town, Hilts has also been named to the 27 member United Brownsville panel.

Mark Sossi

Mark Sossi   has a resume' more appropriate for someone behind bars than serving as City Attorney.  His previous employer, the Willette & Guerra law firm had already proven in court that he had pocketed $167,363 intended for the firm, while the Texas Workforce Commission found that he had done the same thing with monies earmarked for unemployment benefits to the tune of $20,711.66. During his first year on the city payroll his license to practice law was revoked at least once.

Several citizens have sought the City Attorney to assist them with personal legal matters and paid dearly for their choice of representation including Rogelio and Ingrid Gonzalez, as detailed in Juan Montoya's El Rrun Rrun article published 6/21/2012:  "A Stell teacher and her husband say that city contract attorney Mark E. Sossi deliberately failed to prosecute their case which resulted in their losing their $39,800 property to a title company with which he was in cahoots and which then paid $10 for it at a foreclosure sale, selling it later for $20,000.The couple – Rogelio and Ingrid Gonzalez – originally sued Sossi for legal malpractice and now charge that he and Southern Texas Title Company of joining forces to defraud the couple and that Sossi kept them in the dark for years until they found out that their case had been dismissed for want of prosecution."

Oliveira Middle School teacher Jesus Abete, Jr., who initially hired Sossi to recover medical costs and receive payment for injuries in an auto accident, ended up suing for malpractice when Sossi mishandled his case. Here is a partial quote from the suit as published in El Rrun Rrun: "In the ensuing months, (Sossi) repeatedly lied to (Abete), and misrepresented the true facts of the underlying lawsuit to (him). The truth is that (Sossi) never filed suit on behalf of Abete, and by law, suit had to be filed before the statute of limitations expired. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident (January 2, 2009) Jan. 8, 2011. If the suit was not filed by then, (Abete's) rights would have been forever extinguished," the lawsuit states.
"(Sossi) failed to file (Abete's) suit," it continues. "Now that the statute of limitations has expired, (Abete) is forever barred from recovering damages for the serious personal injuries he suffered in the (crash)."

Adding to Sossi's problematic representation of local citizens and the judgement from his previous employer, we've now learned that Sossi has been issued a $100,000 tax lien by the I.R.S.  Oh, by the way, Sossi is on a $5,000 per month retainer to provide legal services for GBIC.

Enrique Escobedo

We will not precede the name of Enrique Escobedo with the title Doctor because he isn't one.  That may be confusing to thousands of BISD students and parents who may tune in to the broadcast of BISD board meetings because board president Enrique clearly uses that title on his nameplate.  Obviously, BISD students are taught that lying will help you to get ahead.  

Escobedo is no stranger to controversy. During the last election the Brownsville Herald exposed his claim to credentials as a doctor as fraudulent. Even after this exposure, Escobedo continued to print campaign materials, file campaign reports and publish a website, all of which referred to him as "Dr. Escobedo". Escobedo maintained that he received a medical doctor degree from Universidad del Noreste in Tampico, but the school denies that.  Escobedo was sanctioned by the Texas Ethics Commission.

Escobedo, a close friend of convicted R.I.C.O.  felon Carlos Quintanilla played a large part in the dismissal of the $14,300,000 lawsuit against Healthsmart, money the students could certainly have used.

Oh, by the way, the fake doctor is part of the 27 member panel of United Brownsville.