West Texas Mayor Arrested in Forged Signature Scheme - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- A west Texas mayor was arrested by federal agents this morning after allegedly stealing nearly $300,000 in a forged signature scheme.

Toyah Mayor Bartolo Sanchez is facing numerous federal charges.

Sanchez, in 2009, allegedly signed a $228,000 settlement with natural gas exploration company Chesapeake Operating Inc.

The money was meant to fix streets damaged by Chesapeake vehicles.

But investigators say Sanchez created a bank account and wrote checks to himself.

And he allegedly forged a required second signature.

Toyah is 175 miles southeast of El Paso.