The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Olga Hernandez, a San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) board member, over allegations that she peddled her influence in exchange for bribes.
A federal indictment charged Hernandez with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
Among other accusations, Hernandez reportedly accepted casino vacations, jewelry and cash from insurers in exchange for influencing the award of SAISD insurance contracts.
According to reports by San Antonio Express News, the charges are based on statements by Samuel Mullen, an insurance broker who pleaded guilty in November to a charge of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud in which he admitted bribing a consultant for area school districts for inside information to help win insurance contracts.
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In addition, the consultant, William Haff, has also pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy, which is alleged to have lasted from 2007 to 2014; and a third co-defendant, Joshua J. Cerna, a former board member of Harlandale Independent School District, pleaded guilty to a wire fraud conspiracy charge for having a role in the scheme while working for the Mullen Pension & Benefits Group.
Hernandez’s lawyer, Alan Brown, disputed the allegations.
US magistrate judge Henry Bemporad allowed her temporary liberty in exchange for a $25,000 unsecured bond. Hernandez was ordered to attend an arraignment on March 02.
