Mayor, city manager of Texas 'spinach capital' arrested for corruptionSAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - The mayor and city manager of a south Texas town that bills itself as the “spinach capital of the world,” were arrested on Thursday on charges including strong-arming contractors into paying bribes in exchange for doing business, authorities said. A federal indictment claims five current and former city officials of Crystal City demanded payments from contractors so they could pay off personal gambling bills, bar tabs, car loans, and other expenses. A businessman was also charged for running an illegal gambling operation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Texas Rangers padlocked the City Hall for Crystal City, with a population of about 7,500 people as part of a probe into corruption where city officials are also accused of dipping into city coffers for their own personal gain, law enforcement officials said. None of those arrested, who include Mayor Ricardo Lopez, made statements after being taken into custody. If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in a federal prison, prosecutors said. City Manager William Jonas, according to the indictment, was elevated to that position from city attorney to reward him for procuring bribes, the indictment said. Businessman Ngoc Tri Nguyen, known as “Mister T,” is charged with paying bribes in exchange for opening an illegal gambling room, and getting city officials to use their muscle to shut down a competing business, it said. Crystal City is known for a quirky tourist attraction of a large statue of the spinach-eating cartoon character Popeye in front of City Hall which celebrates the area’s history as a spinach producer. It holds an annual spinach festival. “Public corruption is one of the most insidious crimes confronting our communities today,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs said in a statement. “It contributes to the cynicism we are seeing from members of the public who often feel as though all politicians are corrupt.” The arrests took place without incident and the FBI also seized documents at a San Antonio office in San Antonio, which is leased to Jonas, said FBI Special Agent Michelle Lee. Jonas, a San Antonio attorney, is a former prominent Texas Republican lobbyist who is also facing state charges of assault after police said he is suspected of pushing a woman who attempted to enter the City Hall using the wrong entrance. politicsNews
mayor city manager texas capital arrested corruptionsan antonio reuters the mayor city manager south texas town bills spinach capital world arrested thursday charges including contractors paying bribes exchange business authorities said a federal indictment claims five current former city officials crystal city demanded payments contractors could pay personal gambling bills bar tabs car loans expenses a businessman also charged running illegal gambling operation the federal bureau investigation texas rangers landlocked city hall crystal city population people part probe corruption city officials also accused dipping city offers personal gain law enforcement officials said none arrested include mayor ricardo lopez made statements taken custody if convicted faces years federal prison prosecutors said city manager william jonas according indictment elevated position city attorney reward procuring bribes indictment said businessman ngo tri nguyen known mister t charged paying bribes exchange opening illegal gambling room getting city officials use muscle shut competing business said crystal city known quirky tourist attraction large statue cartoon character popest front city hall celebrates area history spinach producer it holds annual spinach festival public corruption one insidious crimes confronting communities today fbi special agent charge christopher combs said statement it contributes cynicism seeing members public often feel though politicians the arrests took place without incident fbi also seized documents san antonio office san antonio leased jonas said fbi special agent michelle lee jonas san antonio attorney former prominent texas republican lobbyist also facing state charges assault police said suspected pushing woman attempted enter city hall using wrong entrance politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Mayor, city manager of Texas 'spinach capital' arrested for corruptionSAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - The mayor and city manager of a south Texas town that bills itself as the “spinach capital of the world,” were arrested on Thursday on charges including strong-arming contractors into paying bribes in exchange for doing business, authorities said. A federal indictment claims five current and former city officials of Crystal City demanded payments from contractors so they could pay off personal gambling bills, bar tabs, car loans, and other expenses. A businessman was also charged for running an illegal gambling operation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Texas Rangers padlocked the City Hall for Crystal City, with a population of about 7,500 people as part of a probe into corruption where city officials are also accused of dipping into city coffers for their own personal gain, law enforcement officials said. None of those arrested, who include Mayor Ricardo Lopez, made statements after being taken into custody. If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in a federal prison, prosecutors said. City Manager William Jonas, according to the indictment, was elevated to that position from city attorney to reward him for procuring bribes, the indictment said. Businessman Ngoc Tri Nguyen, known as “Mister T,” is charged with paying bribes in exchange for opening an illegal gambling room, and getting city officials to use their muscle to shut down a competing business, it said. Crystal City is known for a quirky tourist attraction of a large statue of the spinach-eating cartoon character Popeye in front of City Hall which celebrates the area’s history as a spinach producer. It holds an annual spinach festival. “Public corruption is one of the most insidious crimes confronting our communities today,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs said in a statement. “It contributes to the cynicism we are seeing from members of the public who often feel as though all politicians are corrupt.” The arrests took place without incident and the FBI also seized documents at a San Antonio office in San Antonio, which is leased to Jonas, said FBI Special Agent Michelle Lee. Jonas, a San Antonio attorney, is a former prominent Texas Republican lobbyist who is also facing state charges of assault after police said he is suspected of pushing a woman who attempted to enter the City Hall using the wrong entrance. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: mayor city manager texas capital arrested corruptionsan antonio reuters the mayor city manager south texas town bills spinach capital world arrested thursday charges including contractors paying bribes exchange business authorities said a federal indictment claims five current former city officials crystal city demanded payments contractors could pay personal gambling bills bar tabs car loans expenses a businessman also charged running illegal gambling operation the federal bureau investigation texas rangers landlocked city hall crystal city population people part probe corruption city officials also accused dipping city offers personal gain law enforcement officials said none arrested include mayor ricardo lopez made statements taken custody if convicted faces years federal prison prosecutors said city manager william jonas according indictment elevated position city attorney reward procuring bribes indictment said businessman ngo tri nguyen known mister t charged paying bribes exchange opening illegal gambling room getting city officials use muscle shut competing business said crystal city known quirky tourist attraction large statue cartoon character popest front city hall celebrates area history spinach producer it holds annual spinach festival public corruption one insidious crimes confronting communities today fbi special agent charge christopher combs said statement it contributes cynicism seeing members public often feel though politicians the arrests took place without incident fbi also seized documents san antonio office san antonio leased jonas said fbi special agent michelle lee jonas san antonio attorney former prominent texas republican lobbyist also facing state charges assault police said suspected pushing woman attempted enter city hall using wrong entrance politicsnews