Mena has been indicted on eight charges, including mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, deprivation of right to honest services and making false statements to obtain credit. During the time Mena was elected trustee of EPISD, he conspired with others to devise a scheme to defraud the district and community members within EPISD, of the right to his honest services performed in his capacity as elected trustee, said U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton.

Sutton said Mena had set up a sham consulting contract with a vendor through which he received income but provided no consulting services. In addition, in exchange for his vote, support and influence for vendors, Mena instructed vendors seeking to do business with EPISD to make contributions to his election and re-election campaigns, according to the indictment. The indictment also alleges Mena accepted cash bribes in exchange for his vote and official influence, according to Sutton.

In January and February 2006, Mena is accused of making material false statements to a financial institution to obtain a loan, which he apparently said was a home improvement loan for the remodeling of the home of a family member. Mena knew the money was not intended for that purpose, in violation of federal law, the indictment alleged.

The president of the EPISD school board said he wants to remind the public that Mena is being accused but has not been found guilty.

This is the third trustee caught up in a corruption scandal.

This case is an ongoing investigation of the FBI and is being prosecuted for the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof.