City Corruption Probe In Houston

Are you sure New Orleans' corrupt kingpin Stan "Pampy" Barre did not have his greedy paws in this? I know his illegitimate grandson, William, lives here. Maybe he needed child support.

Federal investigators who began looking into city corruption during the administration of former Houston Mayor Lee Brown — and bagged guilty pleas from two of his top officials — are continuing to press for information about several city-owned facilities and the process by which they were built.

In late December, the city received several federal subpoenas asking for material related to the design and construction of the Houston Emergency Center and the architecture and construction of the fire training academy and new downtown fire superstation, Patrick Trahan, a spokesman for Mayor Bill White, confirmed Friday.

It also asked for documents related to the Hermes architecture firm, the Keystone Group (which built the emergency center) and, finally, expenses from a trip to Los Angeles by the former director of building services, Monique McGilbra.

Oh no; he wasn't involved in this. I forgot that he was so busy kissing the feds ass in order to get a reduced sentence.

Texas Oilman Pleads Guilty

He is eighty-three years old. It is time to retire from crime. What a way to spend the next two years of your life.

Texas oilman Oscar Wyatt pleaded guilty Monday to participating in a scheme that paid millions of dollars in kickbacks to the former Iraqi government between 2000 and 2003 to secure contracts linked to the United Nations oil-for-food program.

Corruption In City Hall

I guess there is corruption everywhere. I am use to the corruption in New Orleans. Now I am reading the latest city hall corruption scandal in Dallas, Texas:

Former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill and state Rep. Terri Hodge, D-Dallas, were among the first officials to arrive this morning at the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse, where indictments are expected in an investigation of allegations of insider dealings at City Hall. Former City Council member James Fantroy arrived at the courthouse shortly before 10 a.m.

JUAN GARCIA/DMN

State Rep. Terri Hodge, D-Dallas, arrives at the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse in Dallas Monday morning.

U.S. Attorney Richard Roper has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. in which he will announce the unsealing of federal indictments in the investigation.

An official with the U.S. Marshals Service said 16 people were expected to turn themselves in through Tuesday.

Mr. Hill would not say whether he believes he will face charges. “We won’t know anything until we get in here,” he said.

He was with his wife, Sheila Farrington, a consultant also under investigation. The U.S. Marshals Service official confirmed that both were in custody.

A few minutes later, Dallas commercial developer Darren Reagan surrendered to the U.S. Marshall’s Office with his attorney, Ron Wells, who said that Mr. Reagan has been indicted on bribery and extortion charges. Mr. Wells said he won’t know specifics about the charges until he sees the indictment.

He was followed by Ms. Hodge, who refused to comment as she walked into the courthouse and into an elevator. She was with her attorney, Larry Jarrett, a former assistant U.S. attorney who was a candidate for Dallas County district attorney in the last election.

Mr. Jarrett said another client, former NFL athlete Kevin Dean, will also surrender today. Mr. Dean’s company, KDAT, was named in a federal subpoena during the FBI investigation.

Albert Black, former chairman of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, went to the courthouse to offer support for his friend, Ms. Hodge.

“She’s as tough as she can be,” Mr. Black said. I think they’ll do just fine. We think this is a distressful moment for her ...

"With the kind of counsel she has, they’ll be able to sort it out, and that’s what’s important about a fair jurisprudance process.”

D’Angelo Lee former city plan commissioner, professed his innocence as he walked into the courthouse.

“I am ready for it to all be over,” Mr. Lee said. “It’s been going on for too long — two and a half years —and I’m just ready for the chips to fall.”

Former City Council member James Fantroy arrived at the courthouse in a wheelchair shortly before 10 a.m. He was accompanied by his attorney, Cheryl Wattley.

"I am not making any comment except to say, 'Get out of our way,'" Ms. Wattley said. Mr. Fantroy made no comment.

Federal prosecutors are expected to unseal indictments today with charges including conspiracy, tax evasion, bribery and money laundering, according to several sources familiar with the investigation. As many as 14 people could be indicted.

A grand jury handed up sealed indictments late last week, and attorneys for some of the defendants have been told to surrender their clients today at the U.S. Marshals Service office in downtown Dallas. The defendants are expected to make initial appearances in front of a magistrate judge starting today, but some may be held over until Tuesday, sources say.

The indictment would culminate an FBI investigation into public corruption in Dallas that began publicly 27 months ago, when federal agents raided Mr. Hill’s City Hall office.