Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and county Chief of Staff Alex Villalobos are currently under investigation by the Texas Attorney General’s Criminal Prosecution Division and the Texas Rangers after they allegedly courted a business relationship with a single vendor for COVID-19 tests in early 2020.
The tests were not authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their intended use and were brought forward outside the usual bidding process; the commissioners never put out a request for vendor proposals to purchase COVID-19 tests, or presented alternative quotes.
The allegations being investigated include that Becerra discussed or disclosed information about county budgeting or emergency management needs with MRG Medical, a company seeking to sell COVID-19 test kits to numerous Texas counties, and that he used county resources and possibly county funds for campaign purposes and for courting a business relationship with MRG Medical. Potential Texas Penal Code Violations discussed in documents provided by the Texas Attorney General's Office include misuse of official information, theft and misapplication of fiduciary property.
