EDINBURG – A former La Joya Independent School District school board trustee was sentenced to 37 months in prison for wire fraud.

Juan Jose “JJ” Garza pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges last May.

Prosecutors say he conspired with another man, Armando Jimenez, in a bid-rigging scheme while serving as the executive director of La Joya’s Housing Authority.

Garza and Jimenes submitted multiple bids for construction contracts awarded by the Alamo Housing Authority and the Donna Housing Authority. 

After sentencing, Garza claimed he knew what he was doing at the time was wrong, just not the extent of it. 

Jimenez was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

Both men have to turn themselves into U.S. Marshal Service custody on June 1. 

Watch the video above for more information.