A City in Waiting: 19 More to Fall?

EL PASO--- El Pasoans say Bob Jones' involvement in the corruption probe is not a shock, but his words to prosecutors, after pleading guilty to corruption charges Thursday, now raise all kinds of new questions.

Bob Jones admitted to six counts of corruption Thursday, including one bombshell: bribing 19 people, including elected county commissioners and school board trustees from the El Paso, Ysleta, and Socorro school districts.

All, to influence their vote on a healthcare benefits contract.

Now, Jones will have to face a maximum 10 years in prison when he's sentenced.

"I'm sure that's much less than what they wanted. it seems to me that there are bigger fish, and I thought he was the big fish. So I'm really interested to see who's going to be the person they're really going after," said West El Pasoan Robert McGregor.

And that's the question on everyone's mind, including local school districts whose business dealings are under scrutiny.
In a statement from the Socorro School District, Superintendent Xavier De La Torres said he doesn't know much more than anyone else.

"No further information, including whether the trustees allegedly involved are former or current members of the board, has been made available to the District," he wrote.

19. It's the number of people Jones has admitted to bribing, and it's a number some El Pasoans say is daunting.

Most told NewsChannel 9 they just hope justice will be served, and quickly.

"I would like to see it as soon as possible. Don't drag your feet, stuff like that. But if it takes a couple years, it takes a couple years. Just as long as you get the people who are guilty, especially if they're elected officials," said UTEP student Mark Urban.

"Within a year or two. Hopefully it gets resolved as quickly as possible so we can get this city back on track and try to bring our reputation back up to par," said Aaron Monteros, a lifelong resident.

It's a reputation that will have to suffer, while a city waits for more of its own to end up in trouble.

Again, none of the names of those 19 people have been released, nor have we been told if any have already been indicted in the case.