UTSA Employee Jailed For Ripping Off University

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A former project manager at the University of Texas-San Antonio must serve more than three years in federal prison for accepting bribes.

James Paul Council was sentenced Thursday in San Antonio. The 43-year-old Council in 2014 pleaded guilty to bribery in a case involving his duties with the school's Facilities Department.

Council worked for UT-San Antonio since 1997 but was fired in 2012 amid the investigation.

Prosecutors say Council accepted $1,000 from individuals seeking construction projects. Fake businesses were created to appear to compete for the projects, leading to inflated bids. UT-San Antonio ended up paying more than necessary for the work.

Three contractors earlier pleaded guilty to bribing Council and were ordered to repay UT-San Antonio about $80,000. Two received prison terms Thursday. The third was put on probation.