BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The vice president of the Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) Board of Trustees is now in custody on charges of conspiracy and corruption.
A federal grand jury returned the eight-count indictment Dec. 10 against Sylvia P. Atkinson, 48, of Brownsville. It was unsealed as authorities took her into custody upon her arrival for a scheduled BISD meeting last night. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald G. Morgan today at 10 a.m.
The indictment alleges Atkinson was elected to the BISD Board Nov. 4, 2016, and appointed vice president in 2018. During her career in education, she has served as the superintendent of Socorro, Santa Rosa and Los Fresnos school districts, assistant superintendent of BISD and Rio Hondo ISD (RHISD) and is currently the executive director of High School Programs and Community Outreach at Texas Southmost College, according to the indictment.
Atkinson is charged with one count each of conspiracy, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds as well as six counts of violation of the Travel Act. For the conspiracy and each Travel Act violation, she faces up the five years in prison, while the bribery charge carries a possible 10-year term of imprisonment, upon conviction.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
PINK APE MEDIA’S REQUEST TO BE ON THE BISD’S FEBRUARY AGENDA FOLLOWING MEETING WITH UNDERCOVER AGENTS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEE VICE PRESIDENT SYLVIA ATKINSON
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=43904184
BISD Board VOTES TO APPROVE FILM PROJECT DOUBLING AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO BRIBES
