HOUSTON, Texas – The former Houston city manager at the center of a contract corruption scandal exposed by KPRC 2′s Amy Davis went before a judge to request a lower bond Tuesday.
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Patrece Lee is facing six felony charges including engaging in organized criminal activity, abuse of official capacity and four counts of bribery.
Lee’s bond had been set at $460,000, and on Tuesday, her attorney attempted to lower it.
The judge complied, lowering her bond on one of the charges to $250,000. Then, the judge added a bond for the engaging in organized criminal activity charge, bringing Lee’s bond amount to $560,000.
Lee was hit with the engaging in organized criminal activity charge back in July after prosecutors said that she used money illegally as part of a conspiracy with her brother, Andrew Thomas, and Danielle Hurts, who prosecutors described as Patrece Lee’s personal collection agent.
Lee was indicted by a grand jury in May following a report in our ongoing ‘DRAINED’ investigation. In that investigation, KPRC 2 revealed Lee allegedly used her position as head of the Houston Water Department to direct city water contracts to her family and friends without proper bidding or background checks.
Six other people have also been charged for their roles in the scandal, including Thomas.
Lee is facing 15 years up to life in prison without the possibility of probation if found guilty.
On Tuesday while in court for Lee’s hearing, KPRC 2′s Amy Davis spotted Tieasha Coleman-Houston, one of the four business owners charged with bribery for allegedly paying Lee kickbacks in exchange for giving her company T. J. Cole Enterprises, LLC lucrative contracts.
Coleman-Houston did not speak with Amy, but her lawyer spoke out, encouraging Houstonians to go vote.
