Dallas Public Corruption Investigation

Federal Indictments: Dallas City Hall

Federal prosecutors announced conspiracy charges against former Dallas City Council member Donald Hill and fifteen others. During his tenure on the Dallas City Council, Council member Donald Hill served as mayor pro tem, deputy mayor pro tem, chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, vice chair of the Business and Commerce Committee, and member of both the Comprehensive Plan Committee and Board of Trustees for the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System.

The Dallas City Hall public corruption scandal is broken into several cases with former city council member Donald Hill and thirteen other alleged co-conspirators charged in the primary case. Former four-term Dallas City Council member Leo Chaney is now regarded as a material witness. Council member Chaney was also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System.

Donald W. Hill, 55, of Dallas is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, four counts of bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of extortion by public officials, one count of conspiracy to commit deprivation of honest services by wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of tax evasion.

D’Angelo Lee, 41, of Los Angeles and Dallas, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, four counts of bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, one count of extortion by public officials, one count of conspiracy to commit deprivation of honest services by wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. D'Angelo Lee was nominated to the City Plan and Zoning Commission by former Dallas City Council Member Donald Hill.

Sheila D. Farrington, a/k/a Sheila Hill, 42, of Dallas, was the principal of Farrington & Associates. She is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, four counts of bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, one count of extortion by public officials, one count of conspiracy to commit deprivation of honest services by wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Sheila Farrington is married to defendant Donald Hill.

Andrea L. Spencer, a/k/a Toni Fisher and Toni Thomas, 33, of Dallas, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, four counts of bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, one count of conspiracy to commit deprivation of honest services by wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Spencer was a principal Kiest General LLC, Kiest Blvd. LP, and LKC Dallas.

Ronald W. Slovacek, a/k/a Ron Slovacek, 39, of Shady Shores, Texas, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, four counts of bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, one count of conspiracy to commit deprivation of honest services by wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was a real estate developer and a principal Millennium Land Development LLC, Kiest General LLC, Kiest Blvd. LP, and LKC Dallas.

Brian L. Potashnik, 49, of Highland Park, Texas, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning a state government receiving federal benefits, eight counts of bribery concerning a state government receiving federal benefits, one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits and four counts of bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits. Brian Potashnik was founder, president and principal of Southwest Housing Development Company, Inc.

Gladys E. Hodge, a/k/a Terri Hodge, 66, of Dallas, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning a state government receiving federal benefits, eight counts of bribery concerning a state government receiving federal benefits, and five counts of fraud and false statements in connection with her federal income tax returns for the tax years 2001 through 2005. Terri Hodge is a member of the Texas House of Representatives where she has served since 1996.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. Complete text.