(Ed.'s Note: Word from the federal courthouse is that federal magistrate Ronald Morgan set a $50,000 bond plus a $5,000 cash bond on indicted BISD trustee Dr. Sylvia P. Atkinson this morning. Attorneys Noe Garza and Dale Robertson represented her at the bond hearing where she appeared in civilian dress. In addition, she is to have no contact with victims or co-defendants/co-conspirators (?) due to the ongoing investigation, to turn over her passport, is restricted to travel within the southern district of Texas, and avoid alcohol or firearms.)
By Juan Montoya
Reading the federal grand jury indictment issues Tuesday against Brownsville Independent School District board vice president Dr. Sylvia P. Atkinson, it becomes abundantly clear that federal investigators had targeted her since 2014 and listened to her phone conversations, read her emails, and recorder her through body wires worn by undercover FBI agents.
This has triggered the consternation of numerous BISD current and past trustees, district administrators, and vendors who might have done business with her over the phone and email.
Although the federal indictment mentions that Atkinson sought bribes related to "potential school district purchases of computer tablets, medical teleconferencing services, tutorial services, and other goods and services, it focuses primarily on her alleged criminal acts in relation to assist a purported film production company do business with the district.
Federal agents used a "cooperating individual" who was a resident of Brownsville, Texas who had been assisting the FBI with public corruption investigations. Note the use of the plural in "investigations."
Federal investigators used an undercover agent who was a FBI Task Force Officer.
Of the eight counts in the indictment, one is for conspiracy, another is for bribery in the sue of fedeal funds, and six are based upon her use of email, phone texts, and calls on her cell phone to promote the criminal enterprise of bribing a public official and thereafter perform or attempt to perform acts in furtherance of the unlawful activity.
According to the indictment, the federal investigators revealed their phone taps in the indictment when they listed the last six charges. They were:
Count 3: A text message from Atkinson on Dec. 12, 2018 to the FBI undercover agent demonstrating the language that could be used as a BISD agenda item for the film project.
Count 4: A telephone call January 10, 2019 between Atkinson and the cooperating individual regarding missing the deadline to get the film project placed on the upcoming board agenda.
Count 5: A telephone call February 2 between Atkinson and cooperating individual regarding the board secretary placing the film project on the BISD agenda.
Count 6: A telephone call between Atkinson and the cooperating individual regarding how to request to get the film project placed on the BISD board agenda.
Count 7: A telephone call February 12 between Atkinson and the cooperating individual regarding how to explain the film project to the BISD interim superintendent.
Count 8: A telephone call between defendant and cooperating individual to discuss the passage of the BISD agenda item on the film project.
But this is just the tip of that iceberg.
Back in December 18, 2018, she was recorded telling the cooperating individual on the film project: "I'll get a couple of people to give me some quotes, because...You know it's not going to be...It is not going to be for free...And the whole reason I mentioned about having you be the front...It is because he can get you paid."Then, in another part of the indictment, during a meeting the next day (Dec. 19) between Atkinson, the cooperating individual and the undercover FBI agent the undercover agent explained that he and his partners would "have no problem with paying you for your services" and asked "What do you think this whole thing will cost myself and my partners?"
Atkinson is quoted as replying: "I can tell you it's probably gonna be, I would say, I would say, probably ten," and explained "I think that's pretty low...cause we're looking at the long picture...of us having a good relationship."
On that day, the undercover agent made the initial $4,000 payment and after the agenda item was passed on February 12 – with Atkinson voting in favor – the agent paid her the remaining $6,000 December 19.
It is obvious, then, that investigators had been listening in on her phone conversations – not only with the cooperating individual and undercover agent – but between Atkinson and everyone else who called her or who she called during that period of time.
At her bond hearing this morning, Magistrate Ronald Morgan prohibited from having contact with co-conspirators and co-defendants and victims. This indictment mentions only her. Are more shoes going to drop?
Is it any wonder that many people in the district and vendors, administrators, and other elected officials are nervous and looking over their shoulders at about this time? What deals were cut? What district positions were sought and promised in exchange for a bribe? And why was board counsel Baltazar Salazar so edgy at last night's BISD board meeting? Is he in the recordings?
And depending on what Atkinson tells the feds, the sweating may go on for a long time to come.