(NECN: Scot Yount, Lawrence, Mass.) - He is one of embattled Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua's closest confidants, according to prosecutors.
Sixty-year-old Justo Garcia is accused of stealing cash from parking receipts at the Museum Square Garage in Lawrence where he worked as a parking attendant.
He is charged with larceny and fraud.
Garcia worked for Lantigua as a campaign photographer in 2007, according to court documents.
After the election, prosecutors say Lantigua "specifically assigned" Garcia to the job at the garage, with the responsibility of collecting monthly parking passes for city owned garages.
According to court documents, police used marked bills and security video to gather evidence to arrest Garcia.
The investigation began when parking receipts took a dive of $13,000 a month.
The city's mayor, William Lantigua, has been under a cloud of suspicion since he was first elected in 2009.
Two of Lantigua’s associates are awaiting trial on public corruption charges; a former deputy police chief and a former chief of staff, were indicted on charges of extortion and conspiracy.
Earlier this year, Lantigua paid $5,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the Attorney General over failing to file a campaign finance report.
Justo Garcia did not speak to reporters after being released from jail.
Politics
Prosecutors did not ask for bail. Garcia is due back in court on July 24th for a pre-trial hearing.
