Timeline: Drugs and Corruption at Progreso City Hall

Gerardo “Jerry” Alanis isn’t the first mayor of Progreso to find himself in federal prison.

Every person who served as mayor of Progreso from 2003 to 2023 was convicted on either public corruption or drug trafficking charges.

Nov. 11, 2000

Omar L. Vela joins the Progreso Board of Aldermen. Less than three years later, he becomes the mayor.

Jan. 3, 2003

Mayor Omar Vela is charged with illegal voting, a third-degree felony.

As part of a plea agreement, the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office drops the felony charge. In exchange, Omar Vela pleads guilty to providing a voter with unlawful assistance, a misdemeanor.

Nov. 11, 2004

After a hotly contested election, a headless rooster is found near Progreso City Hall, according to The Monitor newspaper.

May 8, 2010

Voters adopt the Progreso city charter.

The name of the city’s governing body changes from the Progreso Board of Aldermen to the Progreso City Council.

Aug. 21, 2013

A federal grand jury indicts Mayor Omar Vela; his brother, Progreso school board President Michael R. Vela; and his father, Jose Guadalupe “Lupe” Vela Jr., on public corruption charges.

Prosecutors say the Vela family solicited kickbacks from a lawyer, an architect and other people who did business in Progreso.

April 2, 2014

Omar Vela pleads guilty to public corruption charges.

April 10, 2014

The Progreso City Council appoints Arturo Aleman to a vacant position.

Aug. 11, 2014

Omar Vela is sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison.

“I simply want to say that I regret my actions and decisions I’ve made that brought me here today,” Omar Vela said, according to a transcript of the sentencing hearing. “I’m truly and sincerely sorry to my family, my community, and to the Court.”

Aug. 19, 2014

After winning a special election, Arturo Aleman becomes the mayor of Progreso.

Progreso also holds a swearing-in ceremony for Gerardo “Jerry” Alanis, who joins the City Council.

Aug. 14, 2017

The Progreso City Council calls a mayoral election.

Arturo Aleman decides not to run, clearing the way for Jerry Alanis to become the mayor.

Nov. 23, 2017

Jerry Alanis is sworn in as mayor of Progreso.

Jan. 14, 2022

Omar Vela is released from federal custody, according to information published by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

March 18, 2024

Jerry Alanis is arrested on federal drug trafficking charges.

He's accused of participating in a conspiracy that involved his brother, former Progreso school board President Francisco “Frank” Alanis, and Joe Rosbel Salas Jr., a former Progreso school bus driver.

March 21, 2024

A magistrate judge orders Jerry Alanis held without bond, concerned he’s a danger to the community.

March 25, 2024

Jerry Alanis appeals the magistrate judge’s decision to U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.

April 3, 2024

After reviewing the magistrate’s ruling, Judge Rodriguez sets bond at $100,000.

April 4, 2024

Jerry Alanis resigns as mayor of Progreso.

June 15, 2024

Voters elect Hugo Gamboa, a sergeant in the Texas Army National Guard, to serve as the new mayor of Progreso.

“I’m very excited,” Gamboa said. “And looking forward to making that positive change for the people.”

Sept. 24, 2024

Arturo Aleman pleads guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge.

As part of his plea, Aleman admitted to working with Jerry Alanis, Frank Alanis and Joe Rosbel Salas Jr., the former school bus driver.

Aleman “assisted financially” with the purchase of tractor-trailers, which transported cocaine from the Rio Grande Valley to other parts of the United States.

Feb. 25, 2025

Jerry Alanis pleads guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge.

As part of the plea, he admits to “financially investing” in multiple cocaine shipments.

Prosecutors agree to recommend that Jerry receive a minor role adjustment, which could result in a lower prison sentence.

March 11, 2025

Arturo Aleman is sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison.

“I am sorry. I am not asking you to forgive me,” Aleman said in court, adding that he simply wanted a fair sentence. “Even though I did this to myself.”

July 24, 2025

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. sentenced Jerry Alanis to three years and 10 months in federal prison.

“I acknowledge that my actions were wrong,” Jerry Alanis said, adding that he took full responsibility for what happened.

The judge also fined him $15,000.