SAN ANTONIO – Former state Sen. Carlos Uresti was released from federal custody after serving nearly six years of his 12-year sentence.
His attorney, Mikal Watts, confirmed to KSAT that Uresti was released on Thursday.
Uresti, who was sentenced on charges related to money laundering and fraud, had been in home confinement since his release from a federal prison Bastrop in June 2023. He had served four years and four months in prison.
In a statement to KSAT, Uresti said, “today marks the beginning of my next chapter.”
“After nearly six years in BOP custody, including home confinement, my release on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, signifies my fresh, new start,” Uresti said in a portion of his statement. “Some thought I would fail or break, but I stand here wiser, stronger, and a better man with the help of my family amd (sic) friends. Though this journey was difficult, challenging, and dark at times, I remained unbroken. I accepted my fate and made the best of it, never letting anything or anyone break me.”
He was found guilty of 11 different felony counts related to money laundering and fraud. He was also ordered to pay more than $6 million in restitution to people he defrauded.
Uresti began serving his federal prison sentence on Feb. 19, 2019. He was set to serve that sentence concurrently with a five-year sentence that was handed down in February 2018 in an unrelated case in West Texas.
In October 2018, Uresti pleaded guilty to working as a consultant in a contract deal with a company that provided medical services to inmates, contingent on a secured deal with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Prosecutors in that case said Uresti accepted several monthly payments of $10,000.
Read Uresti’s full statement below:
Today marks the beginning of my next chapter. After nearly six years in BOP custody, including home confinement, my release on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, signifies my fresh, new start. Some thought I would fail or break, but I stand here wiser, stronger, and a better man with the help of my family amd friends. Though this jouney was difficult, challenging, and dark at times, I remained unbroken. I accepted my fate and made the best of it, never letting anything or anyone break me. Redemption is not just a cliché—I did my time, I’ve been paying my restitution, and I am redeemed, all thanks to our Lord. I’m in a fabulous state of mind, body, and spirit.
This Christmas, my message is one of hope and unfinished business. I’m ready to continue my mission to protect our children in memory of Jovonie Ochoa, who tragically lost his life on Christmas morning 21 years ago. His memory continues to fuel my determination to fight for the safety of every child. This is just my beginning, and I’m more focused than ever to pick up where I left off! One day soon, I’ll reveal more about my experience and journey. Semper Fi. Carlos Uresti