04/11/2014
Three members of the Vela family pleaded guilty amid an ongoing federal investigation into acts of corruption at the Progreso Independent School District.
Former school board president Michael Vela, his risk manager brother Orlando Vela and their transportation director father Jose Guadalupe Vela all entered guilty pleas.
The three appeared before U.S. District Court Judge David Hittern in Houston on Wednesday.
Both Michael Vela and his father Jose Guadalupe Vela pleaded guilty to their roles in a "Pay To Play" bribery scheme.
Orlando Vela pleaded guilty to abusing his post to embezzle thousands of dollars in cash in a separte but related case.
The three now expected to be sentenced on July 25th with their relative Progreso Mayor Omar Vela.
But a federal grand jury in Houston recently handed down a superseding indictment against McAllen-based architect Jesus Bustos, another suspect in the case with the Velas.
The new indictment says Bustos bribed a Weslaco school board member to get a construction contract.
According to the indictment, a Rio Hondo businessman was participated in the scheme with the Velas.
Neither the Weslaco school board member nor the Rio Hondo businessman have been named at this time but the investigation remains ongoing.
Bustos is expected to appear before Judge Hittner in Houston for an arraignment on the new indictment on Monday.
No comments:
Post a Comment