DALLAS (KRLD) - Former Dallas City Councilwoman Carolyn Davis has pleaded guilty to accepting $40,000 in bribes. Federal prosecutors say Davis accepted the money from the developer of a low income housing project in exchange for her vote in favor of tax credits and a $2.5 million development loan.
"It's important to recognize that when citizens of Dallas cast their ballots, they should be able to trust their elected officials will act in the city's best interest," says US Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Cox says Davis "actively sought" bribes from developer Ruel Hamilton, who has also been charged. Cox says Hamilton withdrew $11,000 from his bank account and immediately gave the money to Davis.
Cox says the rest of the bribe was funneled through a non-profit. She says the US attorney's office worked with the FBI on the case.
"This day is, unfortunately, something we're becoming a little too comfortable with," says Eric Jackson, the special agent in charge of the Dallas office of the FBI. "I promise we're going to hold those public officials accountable who were using their public office to benefit their own pockets."
Cox says the investigation of Hamilton continues, and he may have bribed another member of the Dallas City Council. That person is only identified as "Person A" in court documents.
When asked if that person was Dwaine Caraway, Cox says she could not identify the person, only saying the bribery occurred last year, and the person is no longer on the Dallas City Council.
"Let's see," she said. "I think you're going to have to suss that out."