Indicted Ysleta school board member resigns

The board accepted Linda Chavez's resignation Monday and plans to appoint a replacement in November.

Chavez, 60, was among 11 people indicted Sept. 2. She faces one corruption charge for allegedly accepting money in exchange for her vote on a contract. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

In a letter to school board President Marty Reyes, Chavez indicated her continued service as a trustee would be a distraction during efforts to provide children with the best education possible. Chavez represented the Del Valle area.

"I anticipate being fully exonerated from the present charges against me and look forward to the day when I will once again be able to serve you in some capacity," said the statement from Chavez, who did not attend Monday's meeting.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanoff has said federal investigators relied on confidential informants, wiretaps and countless electronic and federal documents in the investigation.

Prosecutors said Patrick Woods pleaded guilty Sept. 3 to charges of conspiracy to embezzle or steal federal program funds. He is a former member of the board of directors for the now defunct charity National Center for the Employment of the Disabled.

Victor Mendez pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to bribe a former El Paso Independent School District trustee, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The guilty pleas brought to 14 the number of people convicted on various corruption charges in the continuing investigation.

The investigation was first made public in 2006. Federal prosecutors say the alleged conspiracies occurred at various times between 1998 and 2007.