Federal prosecutors have arrested and charged Peñitas’ mayor with bribery and fraud in an alleged scheme involving a La Joya Independent School District property.
In a news release, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas said authorities took 38-year-old Rodrigo Lopez into custody as he re-entered the country.
The release does not specify when he was arrested or at which bridge.
Lopez is facing a two-count June 1 indictment unsealed Monday that charges him with embezzling or fraudulently obtaining a La Joya ISD property.
“From March through August of 2018, LJISD allegedly made purchases totaling approximately $70,010 from Lopez’s company Xizaka LLC,” the news release said.
He’s also accused of bribing a school district employee in connection with these purchases.
As of Monday afternoon, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts says Xizaka LLC still has a right to transact business in Texas.
If convicted, Lopez faces up to ten years on each count, according to the news release.
