South Texas mayor arrested, accused of bribery, fraud

MCALLEN, Texas (AP) – A South Texas mayor has been arrested after a federal indictment accused him of committing bribery and fraud.

Peñitas Mayor Rodrigo Lopez was arrested Monday as he re-entered the country at the Hidalgo Port of Entry.

The two-count indictment accuses Lopez of embezzling from the La Joya Independent School District.

From March through August 2018, the district made purchases totaling about $70,000 from a business Lopez runs, the indictment alleges.

Lopez also is accused of offering a bribe to a district employee concerning those purchases.

If convicted, Lopez faces up to 10 years in prison per count.