In late November 2025, the Cameron County Sheriff's Office arrested a Brownsville man accused of taking more than $61,000 from an 86-year-old woman for a sewer repair that was never started (via KRGV). The case is about a year old now, but it's worth a second look for anyone doing residential work in the Valley, because the alleged hook was the same paperwork contractors handle every week: plans, permits and materials.
Here's what the sheriff's office laid out at the time. Alejandro Diaz Hernandez, 38, of Brownsville, was hired in 2023 to fix the sewage system on the woman's property. For roughly two years after that, he kept coming back for more money, pointing to permit fees, plans and other costs, according to a sheriff's office news release reported by KRGV. The release said he "never even started the job."
He was arrested in late November 2025 on a theft charge and held on a $75,000 bond, KRGV reported on Nov. 26, 2025. According to the release, he confessed during an interview with investigators, and Sheriff Manuel Trevino said more charges could be added. ValleyCentral, the area's FOX affiliate, also reported the arrest.
About two weeks later, KRGV talked with the homeowner, Minerva Rodriguez. She said a friend referred her to Hernandez, and she paid him in monthly installments from July 2023 through September 2025, with family and friends helping cover the cost. She told the station she believed he was a Cameron County contractor. Paperwork she received appeared to carry the county seal, but when she looked closer, the seal was backwards. After checking with the county, she learned he didn't work there and filed a report with the sheriff's office.
"Nothing was ever fixed with the drainage, nothing," Rodriguez told KRGV.
As of that Dec. 10, 2025 follow-up, Hernandez was still in jail. We couldn't find any later public reporting on the case, such as an indictment, a plea or a trial date. Cameron County's case records are searchable through online portals linked from the District Clerk's website, and the clerk's office also answers case-information calls at (956) 544-0838. Until a court rules, the theft charge is an accusation, not a conviction.
The paperwork he allegedly used as cover is real, and it's checkable. The City of Brownsville's permitting FAQ says a permit is required to repair or replace any plumbing system, and that under state law and city ordinance, plumbing work has to be done by a licensed plumber. To register with the city, plumbing contractors show a state master plumbing license, a photo ID and proof of insurance. The city's residential permit exemptions cover stopping leaks in drain and waste pipe, but replacing a defective concealed drain counts as new work and needs a permit. Plumbers in Texas are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which runs a free public license search and tells consumers to always hire a licensed plumber.
Trevino's advice, in the KRGV follow-up, was simple: "They need to be very careful who they do business with. Get references and don't give out any cash. Give out money orders, checks, something that can be traceable, and take a picture of their ID."
Why it matters for Contractors
Cases like this cost honest contractors too. Every homeowner who hears about $61,000 vanishing into "permit fees" is going to be a little more skeptical the next time a legitimate estimate includes permit and design costs. The best defense is making your paperwork easy to check.
Put your license number on every estimate and invoice. When a job needs a permit, give the customer the permit number and tell them they can confirm it with the city's permitting office. Take payments by check, card or another traceable method, and tie draws to work the customer can actually see, like materials on site or an inspection passed, instead of open-ended requests.
If you're not a licensed plumber, sewer and drain replacement in Brownsville isn't your work to sell. Sub it to someone who is, and make sure they're the one pulling the permit.
And if a new customer tells you they've already paid someone for months with nothing to show for it, point them to the sheriff's office. Then show them exactly how to verify you before they write a check.