LAREDO, TEXAS (AP) -- A South Texas man has admitted writing more than $225,000 worth of unauthorized checks from a Border Patrol union account overseen by a relative.

No sentencing date has been set for 36-year-old Pedro Palacios of San Antonio, who's free on bond.

Palacios on Monday appeared before a federal judge in Laredo and pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Investigators say the man's father-in-law was treasurer of the Border Patrol Union Council Local 2455 at the time of last year's theft.

Authorities say Palacios was hired by his father-in-law to repair a union computer and used the opportunity to steal the checks.

Palacios forged signatures on more than 60 checks and then deposited them electronically using cellphone software.

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