ALLEGED MURDER FOR HIRE

McALLEN -- An attorney and one-time president of the McAllen school
board has been accused of trying to arrange a drug-related murder for
hire.

Alfonso Ibanez, 55, had his initial appearance in federal court
Wednesday. U.S. Magistrate Dorina Ramos ordered him held without bond
on one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder and another
of conspiracy to possess and distribute more than five kilograms of
cocaine.

FBI agents arrested Ibanez on Tuesday. The FBI alleges that he
attempted to arrange the kidnapping, torture and slaying of a person
he believed had stolen a load of cocaine Ibanez was in the process of
transporting.

Ibanez grew up in McAllen and served in Vietnam. He was elected to
three terms on the McAllen school board and once served as board
president. In recent years, he has handled criminal, personal injury
and other cases.