El Paso Agent Arrested Rawley In California

By ABC-7 Reporter Martin BartlettEL PASO — The former head of the El Paso Empowerment Zone, an organization which coordinated the disbursement of millions of dollars in federal grants to local homeowners and businesses, was arrested Thursday at her California home by an FBI agent from El Paso and others, a bureau spokeswoman said. A federal grand jury indicted Phyllis Rawley on charges of wire fraud and defrauding federal programs during her time at the Empowerment Zone. Rawley, who is out on bond, will be allowed to travel without escort to El Paso in coming days, according to FBI Spokeswoman Andrea Simmons. Simmons said Rawley’s arrest is in no way related to the sweeping federal investigation into public corruption within El Paso County Government and local school districts.