Investigative reporting.- November 22, 2014
Two Texas Corporations fined $850 For Illegal Politics.
Brownsville and Magnolia companies Otso, Inc. and R & M Transportation Consultants Fined.
Two Liberal leaning Republican entities, one a Political Action Committee for State Representative Cecil Bell and the other the Campaign of State Representative Allen Fletcher have been found to have received donations made by corporations. Corporate donations are illegal in Texas.
The investigation of Friends of Cecil Bell started late in August, 2014 (see attachment) and Allen Fletcher, mid-January, 2014 (see attachment). As a result, Friends of Cecil Bell, Otso, Inc., a corporate security agency in Brownsville, has been fined $100.00 (see http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/sworncomp/2014/3140106.pdf)
Also, as a result of the TEC’s investigations, Allen Fletcher donor R & M Transportation, Inc., a has been fined $750.00, a more serious rebuke.(see http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/sworncomp/2014/31408185.pdf)
These fines were the result of Sworn Complaints filed by Montgomery County TEA Party activists Jim Doyle and Tom Curry who monitor campaign finance reports for suspicious activity.
Otso, Inc.’s President is James S Ochoa of 1154 Pasadero, DR, Brownsville 78520. see http://www.bizapedia.com/tx/OTSO-INC.html . Mr Ochoa was probably unaware of the law regarding corporate political donations, but Friends of Cecil Bell PAC should have done due diligence before taking money. Otso does business as Valley Wide Security. See http://www.valleywidesecurity.com/,
R & M Transportation Consultants’ Registered Agent is Mr. Thomas F Murphy 17802 N Blue Heron CIR, Montgomery, TX. See http://www.bizapedia.com/tx/R-M-TRANSPORTATION-CONSULTANTS-INC.html Mr Murphy, too was probably unaware of the law, but State Representative Allen Fletcher helped write the law about elections in Texas and should have known not to accept it.
Tom Curry (Otso): 281-728-0511
Jim Doyle (R & M): 936-271-0099
by William B. Elmer
1016 Elkins Lake
Huntsville, TX 77340
936-730-1555
