Former city council member guilty of facilitating bribe payments

McALLEN, Texas –A 47-year-old Edinburg resident has pleaded guilty to his role in a “pay-to-play” bribery scheme involving the Edinburg City Council, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jorge “Coach” Salinas admitted that between June 2019 and March 2020, he participated in a scheme involving businesses seeking contracts with the city of Edinburg. Salinas, then a councilman, attended meetings where a business owner sought to reinstate a long-term contract that had expired and converted to month-to-month terms.

The business operated in Edinburg and the surrounding area. The owner had sought both to secure new work agreements and maintain existing ones with the city.

The owner spoke with Miguel Garza who outlined what would be needed to persuade the council to approve the deal. Garza claimed to know several council members, to include Salinas. He said that for a payment, he could deliver Salinas’ vote in favor of the contract and ensure a majority of council members supported it. Part of the money would go to certain members of the council who made up the majority.

On July 23, 2019, Salinas met with Garza and the business owner to discuss the pending contract. The business owner gave Garza $3,000 at that time, because Garza had represented they had an agreement to secure the Edinburg City Council vote on behalf of the business owner’s company. 

By attending this meeting, Salinas aided and abetted Garza’s criminal scheme to have council members take official acts in exchange for monetary payment.

“The public has a right to expect honesty and integrity from government officials,” said Ganjei. “If you participate in a pay-to-play scheme in the Southern District of Texas, you will definitely pay—the cost will be a federal indictment and prison term.”

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton will impose sentencing Nov. 5. At that time, Salinas faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Garza, 54, Edinburg, pleaded guilty May 2, 2023, and is also set for sentencing in November.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arthur R. Jones and Robert L. Guerra are prosecuting the case.