HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Numerous defendants involved in a City of Houston Public Works corruption case appeared before a judge on Tuesday morning.
Patrece Lee, currently held on a $460,000 bond, did not attend court, but her lawyer spoke with. Lee, who was arrested last week, faces four charges of bribery and abuse of official capacity exceeding $300,000.
As a high-ranking public works employee, Lee, along with her brother and five other alleged accomplices, secured high-level emergency repair contracts for water main breaks from the city. The funds were intended to hire outside contractors to repair the city’s water infrastructure.
Documents indicate that from January 2023 through November 2023, Lee allegedly solicited kickbacks worth more than $320,000. She is also accused of defrauding the department of $400,000 by diverting funds to herself through a “shell” company.
“I told the judge the situation and reset her for a bond hearing so I can bring some folks down – family members, etcetera, and go against the idea that she’ll be a flight risk for the community,” Lee’s lawyer, Jay Dedrick, said after Tuesday’s hearing. Lee’s next bond hearing is scheduled for June 21.
The prosecutor informed that five of the seven defendants have turned themselves in.
Defendants Danielle Hurts, a former City of Houston contract employee; Frank Perkins, a business owner; Joseph Nerie, owner of Nerie Construction; and the attorney for business owner Tiesha Coleman Houston, all appeared in court Tuesday. Their attorneys discussed their individual bonds with the judge.
Andrew Travis Thomas, Lee’s brother and registered agent of Lu’s Construction and Inspection, and Edelmiro Castillo, owner of Omega Engineering, Inc., are also implicated in the case but did not attend court.
Of the millions of dollars allegedly stolen, $750,000 was pocketed between the seven individuals. The complete list of stolen items isn’t being disclosed as it will be used as evidence in an upcoming trial, but the district attorney mentioned that multiple new cars were recently purchased.
