Once again, a Gandara has made headlines.
This time Jesus Gandara Sr., father of Socorro city Rep. Jesse Gandara and brother of former Socorro Mayor Willie Gandara Sr., is involved in what is believe to be the largest corruption case for the District Attorney’s office in San Diego.
Jesus Gandara Sr. faces eight felony charges. He is accused of perjury, filing a false instrument and wrongful influence while he served as superintendent of the Sweetwater Union High School District in California.
The charges against Jesus Gandara Sr. were filed six months after he was fired from the school district.
In June, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Gandara “proposed using bond money to pay routine district expenses; billed the district for hundreds of meals beyond his $800 monthly expense account; solicited ‘money tree’ donations from contractors invited to a Gandara family event; arranged at least two public-relations contracts without board approval; and was asked by the state to repay $350,000 for improperly billed student meals.”
The publication reported this week that Jesus Gandara Sr. is accused of accepting meals, a Biltmore Hotel stay, Rose Bowl tickets and for “having a contractor rent him an Albus Dumbledore costume for Halloween.”
Jesus Gandara Sr.’s accusations happened after his oldest brother, Guillermo “Willie” Gandara Sr., was indicted in 2010 in a continuing FBI public-corruption investigation in El Paso.
Willie Gandara Sr. is accused of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and deprivation of honest services while he was president of the Socorro Independent School District Board of Trustees. He was recalled from the Socorro’s mayoral seat in May.
Jesus Gandara Sr. is a former superintendent of the Fabens Independent School District and a former associate superintendent of the Ysleta Independent School District in El Paso.
In 2005, the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees selected Jesus Gandara Sr. as a finalist for the superintendent job that was given to Lorenzo Garcia.
García was indicted on federal charges and resigned as superintendent of the El Paso Independent School District last year.
Read the story here.
Aileen B. Flores
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