Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s ex-chief aide appeared before a judge on Monday morning for sentencing in connection with a bribery scheme that unfolded in 2020.
William-Paul Thomas, who pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge in July 2022, admitted to accepting a cash bribe to reclassify a bar as a restaurant, allowing it to extend operating hours during COVID-19 restrictions.
According to Thomas’ attorney, Monique Sparks, the bribe amounted to less than $1,000. During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office claimed that Thomas also received invitations to events, gift cards, and meals in exchange for assisting two other unnamed businesses.
In a surprising revelation during the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Thomas had been approached by the FBI in November 2020 and had cooperated with them, even wearing a wire to certain city events to gather evidence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to speculate on potential future charges against other individuals implicated in the case, citing sealed documents that remain undisclosed.
Thomas received a sentence of one year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
Following his guilty plea in 2022, Thomas resigned abruptly from Turner’s administration, causing a stir at city hall.
Thomas’ attorney expressed hope that he would avoid serving prison time, emphasizing his years of public service. However, she acknowledged that his involvement in the bribery scheme had tarnished his reputation and rendered him unable to continue working in the public sector.
In his statement to the court, Thomas acknowledged his wrongdoing, expressing remorse and requesting probation. He also asked to remain near Houston to fulfill his sentence.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons will notify Thomas of his scheduled reporting date.
