In a recent government meeting, serious allegations were raised regarding misconduct by David Paredes, the director of city cemeteries in Laredo. An internal investigation by the city's human resources department concluded that Paredes had exploited his official position for personal gain, specifically through his ownership of a monument company that directly competes with other local businesses.

The investigation revealed that Paredes was funneling bereaved families to his company, offering them preferential treatment in the installation of tombstones. While other customers faced lengthy wait times of up to 120 days, those referred to Paredes could expect installation within 30 days. This practice was described as a deceptive scheme that took advantage of families during their most vulnerable moments.

The investigation, led by HR representative Zulema Ortiz, recommended Paredes' immediate termination for violating municipal service rules and ethical standards. Despite these findings, Paredes remained in his position for several months after the complaint was filed in September 2023. It wasn't until recently that he resigned, following the prolonged review of the case, which had been sitting with city management since October.

Additionally, the investigation uncovered questionable financial transactions involving the city’s purchasing department, where several large purchases of monuments were made just below the $50,000 threshold that would require competitive bidding. This raised concerns about transparency and fairness in the procurement process.

Ortiz also recommended that the findings be forwarded to local law enforcement for potential criminal investigation, but there have been no updates on any actions taken in that regard. The situation has sparked discussions about the need for stricter oversight and accountability within city operations to prevent similar misconduct in the future.