SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio man who ran law firms in Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico has been accused of stealing settlement money and identity theft.
Elpidio “Pete” Gongora remains in custody following his April arrest at San Antonio International Airport.
A 16-count federal indictment returned Tuesday charges Gongora with tax evasion, mail fraud, bankruptcy fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Defense attorney Scott McCrum told a judge that the 46-year-old Gongora wasn’t a flight risk, but the suspect was ordered held without bond.
Gongora from 2009 through 2014 ran several law offices and allegedly stole money from attorneys and clients. Gongora filed for bankruptcy in 2013. He allegedly failed to pay more than $1 million in taxes or disclose owning boats, vehicles and property in San Antonio and Aransas Pass.
