McALLEN, Texas – The former mayor of La Joya has been indicted on two counts of wire fraud relating to a public relations contract and the purchase of real property, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Authorities arrested Jose “Fito” Salinas, 81, today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan Alaniz 11 a.m. tomorrow.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment Feb. 11. It was unsealed today upon his arrest.

From June 2018 to approximately November 2018, the City of La Joya entered into a public relations contract with Sylvia Garces Valdez, according to the charges. As a condition for receiving the contract, the mayor’s daughter - Frances Salinas De Leon – was to allegedly receive a portion of the contract’s payments.

The indictment alleges that from January 2016 to approximately July 2016, Salinas devised a scheme that resulted in the City of La Joya purchasing property he owned at a highly-inflated rate.

If convicted, Salinas faces up to 20 years in federal prison and up to $250,000 maximum fine. The indictment also includes a notice of intent to forfeit $235,000.

Former La Joya Housing Authority member Valdez, 39, La Joya, is also charged in relation to the scheme as is former interim executive director for the La Joya Housing Authority – De Leon, 52, La Joya. They face up to 10 and 20 years in prison, respectively.

The FBI, Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarina S. DiPiazza and Roberto Lopez, Jr. are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

McALLEN, Texas –  The former interim executive director for the La Joya Housing Authority is now in custody on charges of wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Frances Salinas De Leon, 52, La Joya, is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Chestney in San Antonio tomorrow morning.

The criminal complaint was filed Dec. 12 and unsealed upon her arrest earlier this week. It alleges that from June 2018 to approximately November 2018, De Leon acted as an intermediary between Sylvia Garces Valdez and a local elected official. De Leon allegedly helped secure a public relations contract for Valdez.

The charges also detail text conversations between Valdez and De Leon in which De Leon claimed to have a direct connection with a La Joya official. That individual would allegedly ensure the contract’s approval and any necessary amendments, according to the complaint. De Leon also allegedly set the amount of payment under the contract. The charges further allege Valdez would have to give money to DeLeon after the contract’s approval.  

The complaint further alleges the women emailed each other about the contract and that Valdez had sent additional ones at DeLeon’s direction.

If convicted, De Leon faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Valdez, 38, La Joya, is also charged in a related case. If convicted if federal program bribery, she faces up to 10 years and a possible $250,000 fine.

The FBI and Department of Housing and Urban Development—Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarina S. DiPiazza and Roberto Lopez Jr. are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

McALLEN, Texas – A La Joya Housing Authority Board member has been arrested on charges of federal program bribery regarding a city public relations contract, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Sylvia Garces Valdez was taken into custody yesterday after which she made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Ormsby. She is set for trial Oct. 8, 2019.

According to the indictment, from June to approximately November 2018, Valdez agreed to give more than $5,000 to someone with the intent to influence an elected official for the City of La Joya. The purpose of the alleged bribe was for their influence in granting a public relations contract to Valdez.

If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The government is also seeking forfeiture of $10,000.

The FBI and Department of Housing and Urban Development—Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarina S. DiPiazza and Roberto Lopez Jr. are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.