RAYMONDVILLE — Outgoing Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra vowed on Monday to keep fighting for the poor and oppressed after he leaves office.

During an impromptu news conference in his office during a break in court proceedings, Guerra became emotional as he blasted alleged corruption at all levels of government. (Click here for more on Guerra)

The day's proceedings ended in dismissal of eight felony indictments he had obtained against Vice President Cheney, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., two district judges, two special prosecutors, a private prison corporation and District Clerk Gilbert Lozano.

In response to Guerra's accustions of corruption against the president, vice president and Lucio, the state senator said Monday, "Mr. Guerra is a very bitter, bitter individual right now. He lost a re-election bid."

But Guerra vowed to fight on, saying he will work for the powerless in America until his last day in office.

Guerra accused Cheney and President George W. Bush of having improper personal investments in private prison companies, lining their pockets by rapidly expanding the use of for-profit prisons, rather than increasing funding for the federal prison system and federal detention centers for undocumented immigrants.

"A half a billion (dollars) they made," Guerra said of GEO Group, formerly Wackenhut Corrections Corp.

Cheney's son-in-law, Phillip Perry, was placed in charge of the federal prison system, Guerra said, citing that as a blatant example of corruption at high levels.

He again blasted state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., charging that he profited from side jobs he obtained from private prison companies, taking payment for being "an expert on prisons" when he was elected to represent the people.

Lucio is also on the payroll of road construction companies who are building the Interstate 69 project, Guerra said.

Lucio said he has cleared all his employment with the Texas Ethics Commission or the state attorney general's office, and has avoided representing those companies in contract negotiations.

If Guerra has information about corruption by the vice president or the president, Lucio said, he should inform the FBI since it is not the jurisdiction of a county district attorney.

News media are not doing their job, Guerra said. Reporters should confront Lucio about taking paychecks from companies who benefit from federal and state contracts, he said.

The death of inmate Gregorio De La Rosa at the hands of other inmates is a prime example, Guerra said.

"People are continuing to die in there," Guerra said of a for-profit prison and the immigration detention camp at Raymondville.