Former EPISD Trustee Arrested In Public Corruption Case

EL PASO — The U.S. Marshal’s office tells ABC-7 former EPISD Trustee Sal Menashould not have been released Friday after posting bond.

Mena was arrested and charged with Mail Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Deprivation of Right to Honest Services and Making False Statements to Obtain Credit.

“Actions are underway to correct this and the situation is under review. No further comment will be made at this time,” said Michael Troyanski, the Assistant Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the western district of Texas.

Troyanski said Mena posted bond late Friday and their was no one at the Federal Courthouse to process the bond. Mena should have remained in custody until after Labor Day, he added.

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EL PASO- The FBI has arrested former El Paso Independent School District Trustee Sal Mena in connection with the ongoing public corruption investigation.

Mena has been indicted on charges of Mail Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Deprivation of Right to Honest Services and Making False Statements to Obtain Credit.

The FBI arrested him today in West El Paso.

According totheindictment, Mena set up a fraudulent consulting contract with a vendor so that he would get paid for consulting he never did.

The indictment also alleges Mena accepted cash bribes in exchange for his vote and official influence. He is also accused of lying to a financial institution to get a loan.

Mena had his first appearance in federal court Friday afternoon.

Magistrate Judge Norbert Garney set his bond at $50,000. But Mena will be in jail until Tuesday, since no one was available to process the bond.

When the judge asked him if he had money for the bond, Mena said “My family is assisting.”

Wearing a blue jail jumpsuit and with his hands handcuffed behind his back, Mena looked stoic as the judge read the charges against him.

Mena also told the judge he still didn’t have an attorney. He was escorted out of the courtroom by two federal agents.

All other prisoners were out of the jail room by the time Mena arrived.

If found guilty, Mena could face a maximum of 20 years in prison.

So far, ten people, including Mena, have been charged in the public corruption case. Nine have pleaded guilty. Mena is the only person who has not.

Carlos Cordova, also a former EPISD trustee, pleaded guilty to receiving money in exchange for votes. Both Cordova and Mena resigned from the board the same day last August. The two men cited health reasons for their resignation.

Charles Roark, also resigned from the EPISD board two weeks ago.

Court documents obtained by the ABC-7 in June of 2007 show Roark is “under FBI investigation”.

Those who have pleaded guilty include former County Commissioner Betty Flores, Travis Ketner – the former chief of staff for County Judge Anthony Cobos and Fernando Parra.

The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office are investigating the case.

“The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue all logical avenues of investigation in the overall case and we will seek similar charges against other individuals when evidence of criminal activity has been fully documented,” said Special Agent in Charge David Cuthbertson.

David Dodge, the president of the El Paso Independent School District’s Board of Trustees release the following statement: