ALPINE, Texas– The Valentine Independent School District was rocked by allegations of financial chicanery as Ernesto Villarreal, the former business manager and tax assessor/collector, faced arrest for his alleged scheme to siphon off tens of thousands of dollars from the district’s coffers.
According to court documents, the 42-year-old Marfa resident, Ernesto Villarreal, is accused of defrauding the school district by using its credit cards for a litany of personal expenses. The charges detail purchases ranging from travel and lodging to home improvements and even university tuition, all funded by funds meant for official district use.
But the allegations don’t end there. Villarreal is also accused of accessing payroll information to funnel fraudulent payments into his own bank account. By altering direct deposit details, he is said to have transferred money intended for district employees to his own accounts.
With charges including one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and eight counts of wire fraud, Villarreal faces substantial time behind bars if found guilty. The potential sentences range from 10 years for the first charge to a maximum of 20 years per wire fraud count, totaling up to 30 years in prison.
The case is being handled by U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Greenbaum, with the FBI leading the investigation alongside the Texas Rangers and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General.
Despite the charges being merely an allegation, and Villarreal being presumed innocent until proven guilty, the gravity of the allegations and potential sentences have already cast a long shadow over Valentine Independent School District.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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