dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

CRICKETS FROM MSM

Top Dallas Democrat pleads guilty to federal corruption charges

In connection with an elaborate scheme of bribes and kickbacks, Dallas City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway (D), of Dallas and Robert C. Leonard Jr. of New Orleans, have pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office explained what happened:

“According to the Plea Agreements and Factual Resumes filed in the cases, Leonard paid and Caraway accepted more than $450,000 in bribe and kickback payments in the form of a phony consulting agreement, luxury suits, fully-funded trips, gambling money, repayment of personal debt, checks and cash. Leonard also admitted to paying Rick Sorrells, former Dallas County Schools Superintendent, over $3 million in bribes and kickbacks payments in various forms, including $200,000 toward Sorrells’ credit card and student loan debt through a bank account opened in the name of a nonexistent entity.”

Further, “Both Defendants admitted to efforts undertaken to disguise and conceal the nature of the bribe and kickback payments. Leonard funneled a significant portion of the illicit payments through various pass-through companies created and operated by his business associate, Slater Washburn Swartwood, Sr., of Louisiana. Specifically, Swartwood, acting at Leonard’s direction, funneled and masked payments to Caraway and Sorrells as ‘consulting fees’ or ‘loans’ through his shell company, ELF Investments. The co-conspirators originally characterized the payments to Sorrells as ‘consulting,’ but later attempted to recast the payments as a loan. Sorrells provided no legitimate consulting services in exchange for the payments. There were payments made to Caraway in the form of checks that were cashed at pawnshops and liquor stores.”

Caraway pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. Caraway admitted that from 2012 to 2014, he evaded paying $68,906 in taxes. Leonard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/08/10/top-dallas-democrat-pleads-guilty-to-federal-corruption-charges