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Alleged Mexican drug cartel members charged with offering federal judge a $1.2M bribe, report says

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(CBS) AUSTIN, Texas - Authorities in Texas filed charges against three men for trying to bribe a judge in connection with a Mexican drug cartel money-laundering case, according to CBS affiliate KEYE.

The station reports that a criminal complaint filed Thursday says Francisco Colorado Cessa, 55, Francisco Colorado Cessa, Jr., 25, and Ramon Segura Flores, 52, tried to bribe a federal judge with $1.2 million in exchange for a reduced sentence for Colorado Cessa.

Cessa was reportedly sentenced on Thursday to 20 years in prison for being part of a scheme to launder millions of dollars from a drug cartel known as "Los Zetas" through a horse breeding and racing business in the U.S.

U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman reportedly said, "This community should rest assured that we will stop at nothing to send the message that we are one step ahead of them, and if they continue to try to function as they do in Mexico, we will find them, we will stop them, and we will do whatever it takes to ensure that they are punished to the full extent of the law."

The judge was not involved in the alleged criminal activity before or during the investigation, according to the criminal complaint.

Cessa, Cessa, Jr., and Segura Flores remain in custody. If convicted, each will face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000, according to KEYE.

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