Woman Pleads Guilty To Paying Off Texas Voters In School Board Elections

LIPAN, TX - NOVEMBER 06: Voters exit a polling location after voting on November 6, 2012 in Lipan, Texas. Americans across the country participate in Election Day as President Barack Obama and Republican nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remain in a virtual tie in the national exit polls. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

McALLEN, Texas (AP) – A third campaign worker in South Texas has pleaded guilty to paying voters to ensure they cast ballots in favor of school board candidates.

Guadalupe Escamilla of Weslaco admitted her guilt Friday in federal court in McAllen to one count of vote-buying. Prosecutors say the 72-year-old Escamilla paid for votes in the November 2012 school board election in Donna.

Prosecutors say she indicated that at least two board candidates gave her money to buy votes.

Escamilla is scheduled to be sentenced in August and faces up to 5 years in prison.

Two other campaign workers — 44-year-old Rebecca Gonzalez and 48-year-old Diana Balderas Castaneda, both of Donna — previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. They are awaiting sentencing.