The mayor of the border city of Peñitas, Texas, Rodrigo “Rigo” López, was arrested this Monday on two federal charges of bribery and fraud, announced Prosecutor Jennifer B. Lowery and the Department of Justice.
López, aged 38, was detained in custody while entering the United States through the Hidalgo County port of entry, as detailed by the Department of Justice in a statement.
An FBI spokeswoman previously specified in statements to Telemundo 39 that “the FBI can confirm presence in the vicinity of the Hidalgo port of entry, conducting court-authorized law enforcement activities.”
The mayor was accused of embezzling or fraudulently obtaining property of the La Joya Independent School District (LJISD), according to the department’s statement.
According to the court document, López gave cash to an LJISD employee between March and August of 2018 so that he will approve and make purchases for a total of $70,010 to Xizaka LLC, the mayor’s company.
If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison, while all property that has been purchased with this money is subject to forfeiture.
Peñitas, is a small town in the county of Hidalgo, which shares a border with the city of Reynosa, Mexico.
According to Cen data so of 2020 the population of Peñitas does not exceed 6,200 residents, who are mostly Latino.
López is expected to make his first court appearance before Judge Nadia S. Medrano on Tuesday at 11: 00 am
With information from Telemundo 40 / EFE
2020