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Willie Gandara Jr., an El Paso County commissioner, is spending the weekend in jail as he faces federal drug trafficking charges


Gandara is also a candidate for the District 75 seat in the Texas House, a position now held by Chente Quintanilla, who is running for Gandara’s seat on the Commissioners Court.

Defense attorney Joe Spencer denies the allegations and says his client has been shocked by the charges.

"DEA, ICE, IRS with the assistance of the FBI along with our local partners are conducting an ongoing operation, and we cannot release further details at this time," said DEA spokes woman Diana Apodaca.

Gandara is part of a politically active family in Socorro. His father, Willie Gandara Sr., was mayor of Socorro and he was charged in the FBI's public corruption investigation in 2010.

The elder Gandara and 10 others were named in a 27-page indictment charging them with seven various counts of racketeering, conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud.

In May 2011, the elder Gandara was recalled as mayor of Socorro after his indictment. The indictment alleges that Gandara Sr. participated in a bribery scheme while he was a member of the board of the Socorro Independent School District. He was the first elected official to be recalled in county history.