BISD secretary accused of prostitution resigns from school district

A woman arrested and charged with prostitution and possession of marijuana over the weekend, has resigned from her job as a secretary with the Brownsville Independent School District.

Geneva Cadena, 34, had been employed with the district for 12 years, most recently as a unit secretary in the counseling and guidance department, said BISD spokeswoman Drue Brown. Cardenas submitted her letter of resignation Monday morning.

She was arrested Friday afternoon in a police operation targeting prostitution, said police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique.

The operation was conducted by the Special Investigations Unit after detectives discovered that Cadena had allegedly placed a want ad for sexual services on the Web site Craigslist, police said.

Investigators contacted Cadena and set up a meeting at a Brownsville hotel Friday afternoon. Cadena was arrested after she accepted money in exchange for sexual favors, Manrrique said.

During the arrest, police found less than two ounces of marijuana in her possession.

Cadena was released after posting a bond of $1,500 for prostitution and $1,500 for possession of marijuana.

A review Monday of the Brownsville Craigslist category where Cadena reportedly listed her ad revealed more than half a dozen similar advertisements. Other sexually explicit ads based in the Rio Grande Valley also appear on the site.

Cadena's ad has since been removed from the Web site.

Online Editor Diana Eva Maldonado contributed to this report.