HOUSTON, Texas – New developments in the KPRC ‘DRAINED’ Investigation exposed widespread corruption in waterline repair contracts last year. Investigator Amy Davis reports: The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is set to make a plea deal with Patrece Lee and her assistant, Danielle Hurts.
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Lee, the water department manager, has been labeled the mastermind behind a multimillion-dollar scheme to divert tax dollars to herself, friends, and family.
Prosecutors described 33-year-old Hurts as Patrece Lee’s personal collection agent. They say she also used the alias ‘Rachel Taylor’ to collect from Patrece Lee’s fraudulent consulting business and two other city contractors, essentially triple dipping while doing ‘no actual real work’ to earn the payments.
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Their indictments, along with five others, were announced last May when then-District Attorney Kim Ogg held a press conference to announce charges of bribery, abuse of official capacity, and engaging in organized criminal activity. Ogg was on her way out as new District Attorney Sean Teare had won the primary for the office.
Investigative reporter Amy Davis spoke with the new prosecutor assigned to the case, Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Smith, about the pending plea agreement. Davis recalled the May 31 press conference where the original prosecutor ADA Michael Levine spoke about the case.
“I was concerned because Michael Levine stood up and said, you know ‘we still have months to go of investigating. We want to get lots more tips. We know there were others involved,’” Davis said to Smith.
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Michael Levine’s exact words on May 31, 2024 were “We are certain there are other affected people that we have not identified yet. There are certainly more witnesses. If there’s someone who has information related to this investigation, we’d urge you to contact the Texas Rangers, to come forward. The only way we stop public corruption is with the public coming forward to be a witness.”
Fast forward 8 months. Amy continued, “And now it feels like... new DA... we’re going end this case. We’re going give plea deals and it’s all over.”
The new prosecutor in charge Kimberly Smith responded, “I disagree with that. I don’t think it ends here. You know -- a new administration comes in. New prosecutors will be assigned the case, but our goal in seeking justice will always remain.”
But is the investigation over? Here’s more from the interview with Smith about the case against Lee
Davis: “If somebody’s pleading, wouldn’t that seem to indicate that most of the investigation is over? I mean how do we know that there are not more crimes that she would be charged with if we’re agreeing to accept a plea at this point?”
Smith: “We’re hoping she would accept this plea. Again, nothing is ever guaranteed. Anything could happen in court. She could withdraw her plea, or she could say ‘I don’t want to plea at this time.” There’s also potential for additional charges coming in the future. I mean really anything is possible.”
Smith: “Just because the biggest fish might be taking a plea, that doesn’t mean that the case stops there. It just means that we could be potentially gaining their cooperation in the future... um, cooperation against future suspects or testimony against co-defendants that are still pending. So, it doesn’t just stop once you get the big fish.”
Davis: “If she’s taking a plea deal, I mean why do we need her testimony to testify against somebody with a lesser charge? I mean she was the big fish, and I think people will see that and say, ‘How are we holding her accountable?’”
Smith: “So essentially having her testify against the other co-defendants because they may not be as culpable, or their involvement may not be as great - they may find issues in the state’s case. So having her cooperation can aid us in having those other co-defendants, those other 6 co-defendants.”
If the deal goes through, Lee will be the second of the seven suspects to reach a plea agreement.
Lee is charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, abuse of official capacity and four counts of bribery.
If a jury had found Lee guilty of all 6 charges against her, she could have been sentenced up to 99 years in prison and a $60,000 fine. Smith said she can’t disclose details of the possible deal, but she told Davis the DA’s office hopes Lee will accept a sentence that the state has offered.
Contractor Joseph Nerie had his felony bribery charges dropped in exchange for pleading guilty to the misdemeanor of “giving a gift to a public servant.” At the end of Nerie’s deferred adjudication, he will have a clean record.
Investigator Amy Davis will be in court to bring you the latest updates.
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