HOUSTON – Six of the seven people charged in the Houston water line corruption scandal first exposed by KPRC 2 Investigates have now turned themselves in.
Investigative reporter Amy Davis exposed the shady repair contracts last November.
Seven people at the center of the water line repair contract scandal KPRC 2 Investigates exposed are charged with bribery, abuse of official capacity, and tampering with government documents.
A Harris County Grand Jury handed down the indictments on May 30th.
On Wednesday 69-year-old Edelmiro Castillo appeared in court to pay his bond on bribery charges in the city water line repair corruption scandal. He is the former owner of Omega Engineering.
Court documents show Castillo paid former water department maintenance manager Patrece Lee $117,000 just before he was awarded a repair contract for more than $1 million. Neither Castillo nor his attorney spoke with us outside the courtroom.
But, according to court documents, he told the Texas Rangers, “I screwed up. It was a bonehead thing to do. I knew it wasn’t right.”
Danielle Hurts, and others in court on Tuesday
Other defendants in the corruption case appeared in the 482nd to pay their bond.
“Can you tell us why you used two different names?” Amy Davis asked Danielle Hurts.
Prosecutors describe 33-year-old Hurts as Patrece Lee’s personal collection agent. They say she also used the alias ‘Rachel Taylor’ to collect from Patrece Lee’s fraudulent consulting business and two other city contractors. This means she was essentially triple dipping while doing ‘no actual real work’ to earn the payments.
Hurt is charged with bribery and abuse of official capacity. While she didn’t answer our questions, the gravity of the case against her seemed to set in.
“Oh my God,” Danielle whispered as the elevator door closes.
Frank Perkins owns CST Connections.
The Texas Rangers say Perkins received more than $349,000 from the City of Houston and then paid Lee $28,000.
Court records reveal that Perkins told Investigators Lee approached him and requested the money. But outside of the court, Perkins was silent.
Amy Davis: “She asked you to pay her charity?”
“So, Mr. Perkins doesn’t have any particular comment at this time. As his attorney, I’ll tell you he’s an innocent man. He’s a businessman with a good reputation in this city and we intend to defend him here today,” said Perkins’ attorney Erik Nelson.
Next up, Joseph Nerie of Nerie Construction who is charged with bribery.
Court records show he paid Lee more than $77,000 while his contracts with the city increased from less than $1 million to more than $8 million.
He let his attorney do the talking Tuesday.
“Certainly, we are going to be doing everything we can to vigorously defend against what we think are incorrect allegations,” Nerie’s attorney Nicole Deborde said.
Patrece Lee remains behind bars
Former Houston Water Department maintenance manager Patrece Lee is still in jail, and she did not appear in court, but her new attorney Jay Dedrick did.
“I just met her a few minutes ago, literally,” said Dedrick.
Dedrick told reporters Lee has a child with special needs. He plans to get medical records to make the case that her $460,000 bond should be lowered so she can get out of jail. Derick told us Lee’s family hired him. But her brother, also charged in the corruption scandal, did not show up in court.
Amy Davis: “Have you had much opportunity to ask her where her brother might be? He didn’t show up.”
“I did not. I know his name is Andrew Thomas. I know he’s a UH grad. But I’ve never met him,” Dedrick answered.
RELATED: All charges related to the water line repair contract scandal.
Even with all of the defendants, the Harris County District Attorney’s office said they are still investigating and there might be more people charged in this case. They’re asking anybody with tips or information to call the Texas Rangers at 281-517-1400.
Last week Houston Mayor John Whitmire and District Attorney Kim Ogg gave credit to Amy Davis and the KPRC 2 ‘DRAINED’ Investigation for uncovering the shady contracts that tipped them off to the alleged corruption.
Do you have a tip you want Investigator Amy Davis to hunt down? Email her at: ADavis@kprc.com
