Police: Edcouch Housing Authority board member sold pot from home

Naxiely Lopez
The Monitor
February 21, 2012


EDCOUCH — A member of the Housing Authority Board is accused of selling pot in a home under the board’s governance.

Edcouch housing board member Mary Garza, 37, her boyfriend Israel Serna, 27, and Garza’s customer Aleli Rojas, 23, went before a judge Tuesday morning to face possession of marijuana charges.

Police arrested them Monday after a drug raid at Garza’s home.
Officers conducted surveillance at 603 Crenshaw Ave. for more than a month, Chief Eloy Cardenas said. He received several tips from residents upset about the selling point, which he described as a drive-thru, about a month-and-a-half ago.

Officers seized several pounds of marijuana at Garza’s home, which is under the housing authority, Cardenas said. He refused to comment on specifics because of the ongoing investigation.

He did, however, describe the pot as top-grade.

Officials from the board could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon. The interim director went to the Tuesday morning arraignment, but deferred all questions to the board’s attorney Gustavo Acevedo.

It is not the responsibility of the housing authority to decide Garza’s fate, Acevedo said. By law, it is the mayor and the city that must decide.

Garza is entitled to a notice of charges against her 10 days prior to a scheduled hearing before the mayor, in which she will have an opportunity to explain her side, he said.

Garza could opt to have legal representation, but not from the housing authority.

“She’s on her own,” Acevedo said.

The attorney did not know how long Garza, who was appointed by Mayor Robert Schmalzried, has served on the board. Schmalzried, who confirmed Garza’s arrest Monday, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

A judge charged all three suspects with the class A misdemeanor and set a bond of $10,000 for each. If convicted, they could face up to a year in county jail and a fine not to exceed $4,000.

The Monitor