WESLACO – The mayor of Weslaco is responding to the recent arrests involving construction bids for water plant facilities.

Mayor David Suarez explains the city was aware of the federal investigation.

They sued a construction company in the meantime and were able to get some of the funds back.

The mayor sent out a statement that reads in part:

“Apart from the criminal investigation we have sued the engineer and recovered $1.9 million for the city.”

Several arrests were made in this investigation, including former Rio Grande City Judge Leonel Lopez Jr., former Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner A.C. Cuellar, former Weslaco City Commissioner John Cuellar, attorney and current Rio Grande City school board member Daniel Garcia, and a Weslaco businessman.

All are accused of bribery and/or money laundering in order to get millions of dollars for rehabilitation and construction of Weslaco’s water treatment facilities.

Click here to read the full press release.