HOUSTON – William-Paul Thomas, the former Director of Houston City Council Relations for Mayor Sylvester Turner, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison.
The sentencing came years less than two years after the public learned Thomas pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in August 2022.
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Here’s how the case has unfolded.
Who is William-Paul Thomas?
Thomas served as director of council relations and was often seen at the Mayor’s side or standing behind him at almost every City Council meeting.
The 65-year-old’s career in Houston started well before Turner, also serving as the city’s director of council relations during former Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s term.
His duties included leading communication between the mayor’s office and the city council members as well as discussing agenda items with the members and counting votes on different measures.
The Charges and What Happened
KPRC 2 Investigates were the first to look into Thomas’ questionable actions while working in Turner’s office when reporter Mario Diaz revealed emails showing local businessman Jason Yoo offering $500,000 to the former mayor’s inner circle for help closing a private land deal.
The email, which was sent to Thomas and Andy Icken in 2017, showed Yoo asking for City Hall and Turner to help him land and close a private real estate deal involving BP headquarters on the city’s Westside for $348 million. Yoo asked Turner to talk with the “CEO of BP” to see if they would work with Yoo and his partners, the email read.
“I will donate $500,000 to city or other charity firms that the Mayor wants,” Yoo wrote at the end of the email.
During Thomas’ sentencing on Monday, KPRC 2 Investigates learned that he admitted to fully cooperating with FBI investigators the night they showed up at his home in November 2020. Thomas said he did everything they asked, including wearing wires for well over a year.
In 2022, Thomas was charged with conspiracy after admitting to accepting a cash bribe in exchange for changing a bar’s classification to a restaurant.
Shortly after, Thomas resigned from his position with the Mayor’s office and accepted a plea deal.
But, over the years KPRC 2 Investigates discovered that these weren’t the only dealings Thomas was involved in. Reporter Mario Diaz identified emails, which showed Thomas contacting Houston Airports System Director, Mario Diaz looking out for Yoo’s best interests.
On November 30, 2017, Thomas communicated with Yoo’s business partner and Directory Diaz, about penalties levied against Yoo and his partners.
Thomas asked on Yoo’s behalf for penalties to be waived after Yoo and his partners failed to meet contractual obligations for an airport concessions project.
Airport records from that year show Yoo and his partner owed the city of Houston’s Airport System $861,000.
“In this email, he is certainly not getting funds for the city,” said Angela Weltin, a former chief prosecutor for public integrity with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office who examined the emails before a Summer 2022 report. “It is a specific request to liquidate the penalties.”
Further scrutiny revealed a “Porsche partnership” between Thomas and Yoo, with both names attached to a Porsche purchased in April 2018. Although the car was registered at Yoo’s residence, Thomas frequently drove it around town and showcased it on social media.
What’s next?
Following Thomas’s sentencing, there are concerns among Houstonians and city leaders about the possibility of additional charges or the discovery of other cases.
The developments in this corruption case have brought attention to the importance of integrity and transparency in public offices.