Julieta Boone-Tellez, age 43, of Richland Hills, TX, is charged by federal grand jury indictment with allegedly influencing a San Antonio federal juror during the trial of her brother that resulted in a mistrial announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and United States Marshal David Sligh.
On Sept. 18, 2017, before Chief United States District Judge Orlando L. Garcia in San Antonio, jury selection and trial began for Romeo Boone-Escorcia in criminal docket number SA-17-CR-352. Boone-Escorcia, a Mexican National, was charged by federal grand jury indictment with one count of illegal re-entry into the United States after having been previously deported.
The indictment (SA-17-CR-816) alleges that on Sept. 19, 2017, Boone-Tellez made contact with a trial juror and showed that juror a photograph depicting her brother. Subsequently, Judge Garcia declared a mistrial. Judge Garcia scheduled the retrial for November 6, 2017, however, Boone-Escorcia entered a guilty plea yesterday to the illegal re-entry charge and was sentenced to time served (approx. 6 ½ months). Boone-Escorcia now faces formal deportation proceedings.
Boone-Tellez, who was arrested in the Northern District of Texas on Oct. 13, 2017, is currently on bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for 1:30pm on Nov. 13, 2017, in San Antonio before United States Magistrate Judge Henry J. Bemporad. Upon conviction of the influencing charge, Boone-Tellez faces up to ten years in federal prison.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney William R. Harris is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
