FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL CONTRACTORS CONVICTION UPHELD BY APPEALS COURT

San Antonio, Texas; May 21, 2008:  San Antonio, Texas: Bexar County District Attorney Susan D. Reed announced today that the Fourth Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Daniel DeLa Fuente, age 44.  De La Fuente was convicted of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Theft of $200,000 or more and was sentenced to 90 years confinement and a $10,000 fine.  The case was tried in December of 2006 in the 399th District Court, Hon. Juanita Vasquez-Gardner presiding.

    This case involved a home remodeling scam with twenty-five named complainants including State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon.  The defendant's scam was very well orchestrated involving various company names, Yellow Pages ads, fake references etc.  The defendant would go and sell the remodeling job and get a substantial down payment.  The plan would then involve an associate of DelaFuente visiting the homes of the “clients” and essentially gut the area that was to be improved.  Once this had been done DelaFuente nor his associates would return to the location and would refuse to take the clients’ phone calls. The Fourth Court of Appeals affirmed in a twenty-nine page published opinion by Justice Phyllis Speedlin joined by Alma Lopez and Steve Hillbig.

For more information contact Adriana Biggs, White Collar Crime Division Chief at (210) 335-2404.