LIT UPDATES
Now it’s moved again, to May 18, 2021 at 0830 hrs.
Federal judges in the U.S. District Court’s Southern District of Texas have moved Sylvia Atkinson’s sentencing date to May 4, 2021, extending it two weeks past where it was formerly to take place on April 20. The original sentencing date was set for February 9.
U.S. District Court
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Brownsville)
CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:19-cr-01097-1
| Case title: USA v. Atkinson | Date Filed: 12/10/2019 |
| Date Filed | # | Docket Text |
|---|---|---|
| 04/20/2021 | 172 | ORDER as to Sylvia P Atkinson granting 171 Sealed Event ( Sentencing set for 5/18/2021 at 08:30 AM in Courtroom 6 before Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr) ( Signed by Judge Fernando Rodriguez, Jr) Parties notified. (balvina, 1) (Entered: 04/20/2021) |
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 20, 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.
Former Texas Lawyer Gary Inmon, Who Stole $119k Can’t Stay Out of the News, But Can Stay Out of Jail
Long-time Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD Trustee Gary Inmon gave up his law license last year after pleading guilty to two felonies, but he refused to give up his board position is now facing more trouble.
School Superintendent’s Sexual Misconduct Documents Now Public
School Superintendent Stetson Roane began to tell me how much he wanted to ‘curl my toes’ sexually” Dean alleged in complaint.
School Superintendent’s Request to Seal Sexual Misconduct Documents Denied by 14th Court of Appeals, Texas
A former Seguin ISD superintendent, looking to keep the details of a sexual harassment case against him private, has suffered another legal loss as court rules against his request for secrecy.
