Former detention officer sentenced

EDINBURG — A former detention officer at the Hidalgo County Jail was sentenced to six years probation after pleading guilty to theft charges.

Juan Carlos Villarreal, 25, of Edinburg, admitted in court that he and his twin brother — former sheriff’s deputy Jose Luis Villarreal — conspired to file several fraudulent loan applications between July and September.

With the help of Jose Luis Villarreal’s girlfriend, Samantha Rene Vega, the brothers put up forged car titles for vehicles that didn’t exist as collateral for more than $82,000 in loans.

Vega worked for Edinburg-based Texas Car and Title & Payday Loan Services and approved the Villarreals’ loan applications even though she knew the information on them to be false, prosecutors allege.

Both brothers were fired from the sheriff’s office upon their arrest.

Jose Luis Villarreal and Vega have maintained their “not guilty” pleas and are scheduled for trial later this year.