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George Martinez Cops A Plea Deal With Orange County DA. Gets Released From Jail On Friday Night.
By Lonce LaMon - May 10, 2010

George Martinez struck a plea bargain on Friday, May 7th, with the Orange County District Attorney for 2 years in State Prison with 3 years of probation.  Martinez is now the third out of the four defendants in the AIG/Matrix embezzlement debacle to change his plea from not-guilty to guilty and strike a deal.  He pled guilty to 11 felony counts of grand theft, 11 felony counts of insurance fraud, and one felony count of conspiracy. 

Cara Cruz-Thompson also struck a two-year State Prison deal late in March and was formally sentenced on Friday.  Her husband, Hector Porrata, who struck a deal on April 9th and was also formally sentenced on Friday, just after his wife appeared in court, struck an eight-year State Prison deal. 

Now, Cara Cruz-Thompson and George Martinez have enough credits from their jail time to be released from custody. Consequently, they were both released from jail on Friday night.  But Hector Porrata remains in custody and will be transferred to a State Prison facility at some date to serve out the remainder of his term. 

Rene Montes, the ring leader of the group who set-up the phony shell companies of WCSC & Associates and WC Surgery Centers, which were never legitimate businesses, is still in custody and awaiting trial.  He has a pre-trial conference now set for May 28th, Friday, and a Trial date set for June 21st. This writer has no information, as yet, of any impending plea bargain in the works for Montes.  He currently stands charged with 59 counts of felony grand theft and 59 counts of insurance fraud, 3 felony counts of tax evasion, and one felony count of conspiracy, with sentencing enhancements allegations for aggravated white collar crime for losses of over $1.5 million and $500,000.  Montes faces a maximum sentence of 108 years and 4 months in State Prison. 

George Martinez appeared in Judge Frank Fasel’s court room close to the Noon hour on Friday after the formal sentencings of Cara Cruz-Thompson and Hector Porrata were completed.  There was a long wait after Porrata was led out of the court room, during which time George Martinez’s attorney, Mary Kreber, laid out the papers of George’s plea agreement on the table in front of the judge’s bench and tore apart the pink, the yellow, and the white copies. 

It was because I saw those pink, yellow and white papers being separated out by Mary that I knew George had made a plea deal.  I know that form by now after having seen Cara’s and Hector’s plea deals on those exact same forms.  

Mary Kreber, wearing a fine grey suit with a string of pearls around her neck-line, sporting her ever-present patent leather pumps, assembled a set of the plea deal and handed it to the court clerk, Elena Villela-Jimenez.

Mrs. Martinez, George’s wife, appeared in court looking serene in her sadness. Bernadette Ruiz Martinez is an exquisitely slender woman with a youthful, boyish face.  Her pink lips pouted down in a sensual pose of innocence and sweetness on her sharp, finely chiseled features.  She was wearing a very becoming black suit with a pleated fringe at the hem line.  She wore a pair of stylish loafers with high, thick heels.  Her brown hair flipped up just between her chin and her shoulder level. 

Earlier in the morning, she had been sitting pressed to the window, gazing outward. She had since moved chairs to get closer to her husband, but still remain subtle.  I had observed her sitting there, very still and very silent. She cut the figure of a fashion model at the same time that she had the look of a young widow in mourning.   The look of suffering of a full year of separation from her husband was etched on her face.  She was sublime as she carried with dignity the weight of her tragedy. 

Bernadette and George have four children, ages 4 to 10 years of age.  When George was led out of the side door and into the court room, loosely handcuffed, he looked at his wife.  She smiled wanly as her eyes softly grew misty.   George subtly smiled back to his loyal wife.  He looked rested and well, and ready to take on his new burden.  He was within hours of being released from jail, and would have to report to the Orange County Parole Board today, May 10th, Monday morning. The judge heavily emphasized the punishment if he should not do so: a warrant would be issued for his arrest.  The judge was emphatic with his instructions and his warnings and concerns.  George had to report immediately to parole on May 10th.

As I left the court room, which is on the 9th floor, I waited for the elevator next to Mrs. Martinez.  I stepped in first and she rode the elevator standing closest to the door.  It was a crowded elevator, and when it stopped on the 6th floor it became even more crowded.  Bernadette suddenly, as if on an impulse, stepped off there at the sixth floor. 

Some man in the elevator then joked that she had claustrophobia.  But, I knew it wasn’t claustrophobia.  I knew Bernadette needed to be alone and away from people in order to digest all that had happened to her that day.  She needed her space on an emotional level.  She was overwrought. 

Some minutes later as I sat downstairs very near the exit to the court house, filling in my notes in my notebook, I saw Bernadette exiting the building.  I had an urge to follow her and ask her how she felt in this very moment knowing George was going to be released from custody this very night.  But I decided to pay her the respect of leaving her alone.  Everything she felt I could already feel.  I didn’t have to ask. 

Readers may write to writer Lonce LaMon at lonce@adjustercom.com


 

 
 

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