Texas Mayor Arrested And Charged For Embezzling From School District
By Dani Medina
June 14, 2022
Photo: City of Peñitas, Texas
A mayor in South Texas has been arrested and charged with bribery and fraud in a two-count indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The indictment names Mayor of Peñitas Rodrigo Lopez, 38, who is accused of embezzling or fraudulently obtaining property of the La Joya Independent School District. The school district allegedly made purchases totaling over $70,000 from the mayor's company Xizaka LLC. Lopez also offered or gave a bribe to a district employee in connection to these purchases.
If the mayor is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison on each count.
Lopez was arrested on Monday (June 13) as he re-entered the United States at a Port of Entry in Hidalgo County, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.