WEATHER ALERT
Houston pharmacy owner found guilty in $160 million medicare fraud
Read full article: Houston pharmacy owner found guilty in $160 million medicare fraudProsecutors say Mohamad Mokbel made over $200 million through a kickback scheme with his company 4M Pharmaceuticals, which involved money laundering and bribery from 2014 through 2021,
Clinic owner at center of multi-million dollar fraud scheme in Houston area sent to prison
Read full article: Clinic owner at center of multi-million dollar fraud scheme in Houston area sent to prisonProsecutors say Gwendolyn Gibbs, 72, the owner of Daybreak Rehabilitation Center, submitted fake claims to Medicare from 2007 until 2016 by pretending her patients were sicker than they really were.
Houston boutique owner tied to bribery scandal involving city’s health department, prosecutors say
Read full article: Houston boutique owner tied to bribery scandal involving city’s health department, prosecutors sayFederal court documents revealed one of those businesses is Melodrama Boutique, which is owned by Juquita “Jackie” Adams.
Investigates: Emails show city council relations director, William Paul Thomas, had close communication with private businessman
Read full article: Investigates: Emails show city council relations director, William Paul Thomas, had close communication with private businessmanCity of Houston leaders are calling for an outside investigation into the actions of a now former city director, William Paul Thomas, after KPRC 2 Investigates uncovered emails showing negotiations in favor of a private businessman.
Former HISD chief operating officer, district vendor indicted in alleged bribery scheme
Read full article: Former HISD chief operating officer, district vendor indicted in alleged bribery schemeThe former chief operating officer and a contract vendor with the Houston Independent School District have been both been indicted for conspiring in a bribery scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Former Venezuelan official pleads guilty in connection with international bribery and money laundering scheme
Read full article: Former Venezuelan official pleads guilty in connection with international bribery and money laundering schemeTwo of the businessmen included Jose Manuel Gonzalez Testino (Gonzalez), a dual U.S.-Venezuelan citizen, and Tulio Anibal Farias Perez (Farias), a Venezuelan national and Houston resident. De Jongh admitted to directing bribe payments from Gonzalez and Farias and others into bank accounts in the names of shell companies he controlled in Panama and Switzerland. De Jongh laundered the bribe proceeds through U.S. and international bank accounts and used the funds to purchase real property located in the Houston area. De Jongh pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. As part of his plea, De Jongh also agreed to forfeit over $3 million seized from his bank accounts and 15 properties he purchased with his corrupt proceeds.
US, UK fight foreign bribery but most nations do very little
Read full article: US, UK fight foreign bribery but most nations do very littleBerlin-based Transparency International said only four of 47 countries — the U.S., U.K., Switzerland and Israel, making up 16.5% of global exports — were actively enforcing legislation against foreign bribery in 2019. That's down from seven countries, making up 27% of exports, that were conducting active enforcement in 2018. “Our research shows that many countries are barely investigating foreign bribery,” said Gillian Dell, the lead author of the Transparency report. Germany, the world's third-largest exporter and also signatory to the convention, only conducts “moderate enforcement,” as do other major exporters like France, Italy and Spain. “G-20 countries and other major economies have a responsibility to enforce the rules.”Transparency's recommendations include ending secrecy in ownership of companies, which makes investigating foreign bribery difficult, and exploring increased liability of parent companies for the actions of their foreign subsidiaries.
Gov. Greg Abbott says accusations against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton “raise serious concerns”
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott says accusations against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton “raise serious concerns”The brief letter, dated Oct. 1, says the officials notified law enforcement of a potential crime on Sept. 30, but does not provide detailed accusations. The officials also say they notified Paxton himself of the accusation via text message on Oct. 1. “Your work, your sacrifice, and your dedication to this office inspire us all.”Meanwhile, top Texas Republicans reacted cautiously to the allegations against Paxton. In 2014, the Texas State Securities Board fined Paxton $1,000 for soliciting investment clients without being registered, and he signed a disciplinary order without disputing its findings. “Ken Paxton is the top law enforcement official in the state,” Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement Saturday.
Investigation: Mayor’s office received $500K offer asking mayor to help close private land deal
Read full article: Investigation: Mayor’s office received $500K offer asking mayor to help close private land dealHOUSTON – A thread of emails dating back to 2017 between Mayor Sylvester Turner’s inner circle and local businessman Jason Yoo, is raising questions about bribery. In the email, Yoo asked 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. They put this in an email,” Wynne said. In fact, after Thomas wrote that the Mayor would meet with Yoo, Thomas sent the thread of internal city emails to Yoo, writing, "I’m on this! (KPRC)Ultimately, in a separate email, Turner informed his assistant that he would not meet with Yoo after all.