HOUSTON – Legal records obtained by KPRC 2 Investigates show the federal sentencing date for William-Paul Thomas, the former City of Houston’s Director of City Council Relations, has been pushed back a second time to March 27, creating a third sentencing date.
It was last summer when Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy.
Unsealed court documents at the time show Thomas admitted to accepting a cash bribe in exchange for changing a bar’s classification to a restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas initially was to be sentenced on Nov. 28, 2022, but in early November it was moved to Feb. 21. However, that date has now been scrapped and a new sentencing date is now set for March 27 at 8:30 a.m. in Judge Andrew Hanen’s courtroom.
Federal records show the Presentence Investigation and Disclosure report is not yet complete. KPRC 2 Investigates spoke with Ryan Patrick, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, for further insight on what may be contributing to the delay.
“Presentence reports get delayed frequently for all different types of reasons, but in a case like this, it tends to mean that there is ongoing cooperation or there are ongoing negotiations behind the scenes between the lawyers to get to the result that both sides want,” said Patrick.
The completed PSI report is due on March 17, 10 days before Thomas is to be sentenced.
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