Sentencing for former Brownsville ISD school board trustee delayed
DEC 21, 2020 | REPUBLISHED BY LIT: FEB 22, 2021
Brownsville, Texas —The sentencing of former BISD board of trustee Sylvia P. Atkinson was moved to April 2021. Atkinson’s sentencing was originally scheduled for Feb. 9, 2021, but she filed an extension that was granted by Judge Fernando Rodriguez. (Bankruptcy judge, S.D. Tex.).
Atkinson was faced one count of conspiracy, one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, and six counts of travel act-state law bribery. In Nov. a jury found Atkinson guilty on all eight charges.
Atkinson was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in December 2019 after being indicted by a grand jury.
According to the indictment, Atkinson used her position as a Brownsville ISD employee to, “obtain money from private companies and private individuals in exchange for assistance in obtaining contracts with BISD or Rio Hondo ISD.”
United States v. Atkinson (1:19-cr-01097) District Court, S.D. Texas
| Description | Disposition | |
|---|---|---|
| Pending Count | Ct. 8s: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(8s) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 8: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(8) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 7s: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(7s) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 7: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(7) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 6s: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(6s) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 6: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(6) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 5s: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(5s) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 5: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(5) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 4s: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(4s) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 4: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(4) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 3s: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(3s) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 3: Travel Act-State Law Bribery 18 USC 1952 and 2(3) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 2s: Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds 18 USC 666 (a)(1)(B) and 2(2s) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 2: Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds 18 USC 666 (a)(1)(B) and 2(2) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 1s: Conspiracy 18 USC 371(1s) | None |
| Pending Count | Ct. 1: Conspiracy 18 USC 371(1) | None |
| Complaint | None | None |
Brownsville ISD Vice President indicted on charges of conspiracy and corruption
DEC 11, 2019 | REPUBLISHED BY LIT: FEB 22, 2021
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.
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