TOYAH, Texas (AP) - The
mayor of a West Texas town of about 100 people has been charged with
stealing nearly $300,000 in a forged signature scheme.
Toyah (TOY'-yuh) Mayor
Bartolo Sanchez faces federal charges of bank fraud, wire fraud and four
counts of aggravated identity theft.
Authorities did not immediately return a message Monday about Sanchez, who was arrested Friday. He's been mayor since 2006.
Investigators say Sanchez,
without knowledge of the Toyah City Council, in 2009 signed a $228,000
settlement with natural gas exploration company Chesapeake Operating
Inc. The money was meant to fix streets damaged by Chesapeake vehicles.
Investigators say Sanchez
created a bank account and wrote checks to himself from that town fund
and others. He allegedly forged a required second signature.
Toyah is 175 miles southeast of El Paso.
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