Rio Grande City commissioners placed their city secretary, who was arrested last week on money laundering charges, on administrative leave without pay following a special meeting Monday.
Melissa Anne Garza, the city secretary, was arrested on Thursday on two money laundering charges related to the drug trafficking ring allegedly led by her husband, Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Garza.
The special meeting was called Friday after the city said in a social media post that it was not able to confirm any facts related to an investigation involving Garza.
On Friday, Garza pleaded not guilty to both charges before a federal judge in McAllen. U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano set an unsecured bond for $250,000 and ordered GPS monitoring as part of some conditions for her release. Garza was released
Commissioners went into executive session at 12:03 p.m. Monday to consult with an attorney and discuss Garza’s employment status. Thirty minutes later, they emerged and announced Garza would be placed on administrative leave and Angela Solis, the current administrative assistant, was voted in as interim city secretary.
Both decisions were made with the unanimous consent of all board members.
