A former Laredo city council member filed a petition in Webb County district court seeking the removal of Sheriff Martin Cuellar from office, citing a federal indictment unsealed in January 2026 that charges Cuellar and two co-defendants with misappropriating funds from the sheriff's office during the COVID-19 pandemic [1]. The petition was filed by Alfonso "Poncho" Casso, and Cuellar has entered a not guilty plea to the federal charges and denied all allegations in the removal proceeding [1].
The federal indictment, a five-count charging instrument, alleges that Cuellar and two others operated a private disinfecting business that used Webb County employees and county-owned supplies to perform work, diverting those public resources for private financial gain during the pandemic period [1]. The conduct, if proven, would constitute misappropriation of government property and related fraud offenses. Cuellar has served as Webb County Sheriff in Laredo, a major port of entry on the Texas-Mexico border, and the sheriff's office holds primary law enforcement jurisdiction across the county.
Under Texas law, a sitting county official may be removed by district court petition on grounds that include official misconduct and conviction or indictment for certain felony offenses. The removal petition is a civil proceeding filed in state court and runs parallel to, but independently of, the federal criminal case. Casso, identified as a former Laredo city council member, initiated the petition as a private citizen invoking the state removal statute [1]. The filing does not require a conviction; the indictment itself can serve as a statutory predicate for initiating the proceeding.
The case presents a dual-track procedural posture. The federal criminal matter, prosecuted by the Department of Justice, remains pending following Cuellar's not guilty plea [1]. The state removal petition is now before a Webb County district court, which must determine whether the statutory grounds for removal have been met. Cuellar's legal team is expected to contest both proceedings. No trial date in the federal matter has been reported, and the removal petition has not yet been scheduled for a hearing based on available source material.
The outcome of either proceeding could determine whether Cuellar remains in office during the pendency of litigation. A successful removal would require a separate process to fill the vacancy. Webb County, encompassing Laredo, is one of the most active commercial and law enforcement zones along the southern border, making the stability of its sheriff's office a matter of regional significance.