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Local auto dealer Joe Blackwell was sued by Rio Bank in 2013

25-count federal indictment

By Gregg Romero Wendorf

As a follow-up to the story The Advance News Journal published last week about longtime local auto dealer Joe Blackwell, age 69, being taken into federal custody (two weeks ago) and charged with 25 felony counts that include eight counts of mail fraud, 16 counts of wire fraud, and one count of bank fraud, there was also evidence uncovered recently in Hidalgo County Court that his troubles with Rio Bank included civil matters in addition to the criminal charges he now faces.
Blackwell is currently free on bail after posting a $50,000 unsecured (un-collateralized) bond, and is awaiting trial, currently scheduled approximately two months from now. Blackwell’s attorney of record is District 40 state representative Terry Canales, who failed this week to answer any questions concerning this case.

Read the entire story on the e-Edition of our newspaper. http://www.etypeservices.com/Advance%20News%20JournalID455/

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