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Federal prosecutors charged an Edinburg politiquero with bribery for an alleged scheme involving two former Edinburg elected officials and a business owner. Authorities arrested Miguel Angel Garza on Monday for receipt of a bribe and violating the travel act after a grand jury returned a sealed indictment on May 4.
Garza is scheduled to make his first appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano Tuesday afternoon, records indicate.
The indictment alleges Garza participated in a kickback scheme that allowed elected officials to sell their votes on the contracts the city awarded. It also allegedly involved federal funds in excess of $10,000, which the city of Edinburg received in 2019 and 2020 for “grants, contracts, subsidies, loans, guarantees, insurance, and other forms of federal assistance.”
The charging document refers to the two former elected officials as “Official A” and “Official B.”
That document also lists a “Person 1” who owned a business in Edinburg and attempted to obtain contracts and work agreements with the city while also trying to maintain existing contracts and work agreements.
Both officials were in positions with the city of Edinburg where each could vote on whether the city would award contracts and work agreements to Person 1’s business, or modify or end those contracts. Prosecutors allege that from June 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020, Garza corruptly aided these public officials.
There are at least five elected officials who were on the council during that time who are no longer a part of the city, including former Mayor Richard Molina and councilmen Jorge Salinas, David Torres, Homer Jasso Jr. and Gilbert Enriquez. The indictment alleges that Garza “did knowingly, and corruptly aid and abet” both public officials to solicit and demand cash bribes of over $5,000 in order for the elected officials to vote favorably on contracts awarded to a business controlled by Person 1.
In February 2020, The Monitor reported that FBI agents raided Garza’s home in the 700 block of Cano Street in Edinburg.
Garza is a well-known campaign supporter of various elected officials.
He was also involved in the voter fraud case against former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina.
During a hearing late last year, Garza testified during a motion to disqualify District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. from prosecuting the mayor.
During his testimony, Garza admitted that the FBI questioned him about Molina, the mayor’s relationships and about a pay-to-play scheme.
Garza also denied during that hearing that he was cooperating with an FBI investigation into Molina, who has pleaded not guilty to the voter fraud charges.
If convicted, federal authorities will seek the seizure of $47,235 in cash.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to add new information.
