File Photo
Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner Sylvia Handy
Posted on 04/02/2009 5:22:14 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
McALLEN — Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner Sylvia Handy was arrested this morning as part of an ongoing public corruption investigation, law enforcement officials said.
Prosecutors allege the embattled elected official paid undocumented immigrants more than $100,000 in taxpayer money over the course of four years for personal services such as house cleaning and babysitting.
Also arrested was Handy's husband, Juan Gabriel Espronceda, who is accused of helping his wife to orchestrate the fraudulent employment practices.
A six-count federal indictment in the case accuses the couple of selecting illegal immigrants to be "hired" at her precinct offices, where Handy would direct lawful employees to process the fraudulent job applications.
Government money was also used to pay off a $50,000 bill consolidation loan issued in Handy's name, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
One of the alleged servants — Maria de los Angeles Landa de Hernandez — was arrested without incident this morning by investigating agents, who accuse her of fraudulently signing time sheets.
Precinct 1 Chief Admin Joseph Palacios, who said early this afternoon that he had not talked to Handy today, said the precinct would have no comment on the charges against Handy.
Palacios held a meeting with precinct department heads to discuss the news this morning, he said.
The department heads were directed to instruct their staff to continue with day-to-day operations. "They know they should stay mindful of the work that's at hand," Palacios said.
"Out of respect for the commissioner, just to leave it to the hands of those who are dealing with the situation and make ourselves available to her constituents."
"We've got a job to do."
Palacios said there was no discussion in the days leading up to Thursday that an arrest was pending. He said he had no recent discussions with Handy about legal matters stemming from the 2007 raids. "I'm just as in shock as everybody else. We haven't seen anything, it's been very quiet for so long there was no indication whatsoever."
Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas said the county was gathering information on how to procede.
Because Handy has not been convicted, she will continue to operate as Precinct 1 commissioner unless she chooses to resign.
"This is an ongoing investigation," Salinas said. "My office is cooperating with federal authorities and will guarantee that all vital public services for the families of Precinct 1 continue."
At the Precinct 1 office in Weslaco, a secretary said the office would have no comment. A lawn repair service at Handy's house said they had not seen the commissioner all day.
Handy previously denied any wrongdoing during a June 2007 FBI raid on her Weslaco office.
"I can say without a doubt that I have not been involved in any illegal activity to defraud taxpayers, whom I have dutifully served for the last 10 years," she said in a written statement at the time.
Investigators began scrutinizing her hiring practices earlier that year after a county-wide audit uncovered evidence that someone there may have been paying "phantom employees" for work that was not actually done on behalf of the county.
Since then, the investigation has widened significantly beyond those initial allegations, law enforcement officials said, and several more investigations have been opened into the commissioner's activities.
But this investigation is not the first time she has come under public scrutiny.
In 1998, the FBI opened an investigation into nearly $9,000 in unpaid bills for a car her precinct had rented. The probe uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing, and Handy has since described the lapsed payments as an "oversight."
The first woman elected to the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court, Handy has held her seat since 1996. She was re-elected to another term in office late last year. (VIDEO: Monitor reporter Jeremy Roebuck explains the background)
All defendants in the case are set to make her first court appearance at federal court in McAllen at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
If convicted, each could face up to 10 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines.
Check themonitor.com throughout the day for updates to this story.
Party affiliation? Must be (D) since it’s not mentioned.
Guilty X 2
Why you must be a physic!
http://txdems.bluestatedigital.com/elected_officials/Hidalgo_Johnson_Counties
Psychic!!! Damn, I hate when I can not spell correctly!
Nope, I'm a pilot ....
Valle ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
A headline about folks in Hidalgo County hiring illegal aliens must rate about as interesting as a story lead “Sun rises in East.”
She has nothing on this guy...http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_12054821
The picture sure tells a story, doesn’t it?
Public Corruption...Ping!
But this woman has a twist on hiring illegals by having the county pay the illegals, then she has them work at her home as nannies and maids. What a deal!
Ok - not psychic, just psycho. :)
Like I said, not that unusual for county officials to use illegals or legals to do work at their homes. I remember one county judge that used county road graders and other equipment—and their operators—to improve his ranch roads and build dams on his place.
In most places,it’s called graft, in S. Texas its a perk.
Yea, that’s it ....
“...only the “tip of the iceberg,”
http://www.valleymorningstar.com/articles/handy_49294___article.html/county_commissioner.html
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