Mexico Arrests Its 'Most Powerful Woman'

She's known as Mexico's most powerful woman, and she's currently sitting in prison. Elba Esther Gordillo was arrested on corruption charges last night after landing near Mexico City in a private plane, reports the AP. It's things like private planes that appear to be the problem: The 68-year-old heads the country's 1.5 million-member teachers' union, which the BBC describes as Latin America's most powerful union, and prosecutors accuse her of embezzling more than $150 million from its funds to fund a lavish lifestyle of planes, $17,000 of plastic surgery, and designer clothing.

• Gordillo allegedly used the funds to pay for two homes near San Diego; $2.1 million was also reportedly transferred to a Neiman Marcus account, reports the New York Times. The transactions are said to have occurred between 2008 and 2012.
• Some $2 million of union money was allegedly funneled into accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, reports the AFP.
• The AP notes that she was paid about $72,000 a year, but was known to wear $1,200 shoes and carry a $5,500 purse.
• The BBC explains that the arrest came just a day after President Enrique Peña Nieto instituted sweeping reforms designed to mend a problematic teaching system, in which positions can be inherited, dead teachers are sometimes paid, and regular assessments aren't conducted. Gordillo was seen as a key obstacle to reform.

(More Elba Esther Gordillo stories.)