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US: Former La Joya housing director sentenced to 37 months for fraud conspiracy

 |  April 19, 2018

A judge on Wednesday, April 19, sentenced former La Joya school board Trustee Juan Jose “J.J.” Garza to 37 months in federal prison for a bid rigging scheme, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office.

Garza and his co-defendant, 53-year-old Armando Jimenez, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge on May 3 of last year.

Garza worked with Armando Jimenez, a cook at Stilettos Cabaret, to rig construction bids at the Alamo Housing Authority and the Donna Housing Authority, according to the indictment. They won contracts worth nearly US$45,000.

“My apologies to everyone: People that trust me, the public. None of my intentions were to hurt anybody,” Garza said when he left the federal courthouse. “I just want to say I’m sorry.”

Full Content: Department of Justice

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