Date: 11-15-2019

Case Style:

Case Number: 3:19-cr-00234-PRM

Judge: Philip R. Martinez

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (El Paso County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Christopher K. Mangels and Carlos Hermosillo

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description: El Paso, TX - The United States of America charged James Hilario Balbin with fraud involving the maintenance of military aircraft.

Federal Jury Convicts Former Civilian Employee at Ft. Bliss for Fraud Scheme Involving Military Aircraft Maintenance and Parts

A federal jury convicted a former civilian employee in the U.S. Army at Ft. Bliss for a scheme to defraud the government with respect to military aircraft maintenance and parts.

Following a four-day trial, jurors convicted James Hilario Balbin of Corpus Christi, TX, of one count of conspiracy to commit fraud involving aircraft parts and one substantive count of fraud involving aircraft parts. Evidence presented during trial revealed that in November and December of 2017, while assigned to conduct maintenance inspections on an Army Blackhawk helicopter, Balbin signed off an official Army maintenance form verifying that all inspections had taken place and work completed when in truth, he signed the form prior to the completion of the repair work and inspections taking place. The jury also found that Balbin conspired with Robert Edgard Blankenbeker, a mechanic and his co-defendant, to conceal his crime.

Balbin remains on bond pending sentencing before U.S. District Judge Philip R. Martinez. Balbin faces up to 30 years in federal prison and restitution to the government. On July 19, 2019, Blankenbeker pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Blankenbeker remains on bond pending sentencing. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison. No sentencing dates have been scheduled.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher K. Mangels and Carlos Hermosillo are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Charges:

18:38(a)(3),38(a)(1)(C)&38(b)(1) Conspiracy to Commit Fraud Involving Aircraft Parts in Interstate or Foreign Commerce
(1)
18:338(a)(1)(C)&38(b)(1) Fraud Involving Aircraft Parts in Interstate or Foreign Commerce
(2)

Outcome: 11/12/2019 153 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Philip R. Martinez:Jury Trial as to James Hilario Balbin held on 11/12/2019 (Minute entry documents are not available electronically.) (Court Reporter Walter Chiriboga.) (dt) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
11/12/2019 154 Court's Instructions to Jury as to James Hilario Balbin (dt) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
11/12/2019 155 Jury Note 1 as to James Hilario Balbin SEALED pursuant to E-Government Act of 2002 (dt) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
11/12/2019 156 JURY VERDICT (Redacted Version) as to James Hilario Balbin (1) Guilty on Count 1,2. filed. Unredacted Version Sealed pursuant to E-Government Act of 2002. (Attachments: # 1 Sealed Document Jury Verdict)(dt) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
11/12/2019 157 EXHIBIT LIST by USA as to James Hilario Balbin (dt) (Entered: 11/13/2019)
11/12/2019 158 EXHIBIT RECEIPT by USA as to James Hilario Balbin (dt) (Entered: 11/13/2019)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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