Terri Hodge Pleads Guilty in Dallas Housing Scheme

Judge hopes to sentence expeditiously

Texas Rep. Gladys E. "Terri" Hodge pleaded guilty to fraud and false statements on a tax return Wednesday morning.

Hodge was to go on trial early next month on charges outlined in a 31-count indictment charging 14 public officials and their associates with various offenses related to a bribery and extortion scheme involving affordable housing developments in the Dallas area, said U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. 

As a condition of her plea with the government, Hodge, who was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, District 100, in 1996, and has been re-elected ever since, has agreed to resign her office and never seek or hold future public office.

Late Wednesday morning, Hodge issued the following statement: "I want to take this opportunity to express my remorse to my colleagues in the legislature, my friends, and my family for my actions," said Hodge. "Most of all, I want to apologize to all the citizens of District 100 for letting them down." (Click here to read the full statement)

Hodge faces a maximum statutory sentence of three years in prison, a $100,000 fine, and restitution to the IRS. 

A statement released Wednesday by Jacks said the following on the case against Hodge:

According to the factual resume filed in the case, over the course of her tenure as a state representative, Hodge supported Southwest Housing Development Company, Inc. (SWH) developments which, among others, included affordable housing developments in District 100.  Co-defendant Cheryl L. Potashnik, the wife of co-defendant Brian L. Potashnik, a real estate developer and the founder, president and a principal of SWH, served in multiple roles in management and development of SWH, including that of chief operating officer and principal of SHW. Cheryl Potashnik pleaded guilty to bribery in connection with benefits given to Hodge by the Potashniks and SWH. Brian Potashnik also pleaded guilty to bribery of various public officials. Both Potashniks are awaiting sentencing.

According to the actual resume filed, sometime on or before Feb. 27, 2002, Hodge asked Brian Potashnik for assistance in the form of affordable housing for herself within the geographical boundaries of her political district.  She indicated that she had financial problems and could not afford to pay the full rate for housing.  Beginning in April 2002, the Potashniks made arrangements to provide Hodge with housing in one of SWH’s market-rate affordable housing development units, which was located at Rosemont at Arlington Park in District 100.  Hodge moved into the apartment on April 1, 2002, and renewed her lease, at the same rental rate of $200 per month, in November 2002 and again in March 2003.  As reflected in the executed lease agreements, the market rate for this unit was $899 per month, and the difference in rent was paid by the Potashniks.

In addition, the Potashniks paid the utility bills on the apartment from their development funds and provided new carpeting for her house located on Abrams Road in Dallas.  The carpeting cost $1,995 and was paid for by the construction arm of SWH, a company named Affordable Housing Construction, Inc.    

According to court documents, the total value of the rental subsidies, utilities and carpeting provided to Hodge by the Potashniks from 2002 through 2005 was $32,541.  None of this amount was included as income on the corresponding federal income tax returns for the tax years in which it was received by Hodge.

The plea documents further state that Hodge had additional income, in tax years 2001 through 2005, totaling $41,465, comprised, in part, of campaign contributions which she used for her own personal benefit and which she did not include as income on the corresponding federal income tax returns for the tax years in which she received it.

Hodge admits that she filed a U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, with the IRS, that she well knew omitted income of $6,914 in 2001; $27,062 in 2002; $13,402 in 2003; $19,908 in 2004; and $6,720 in 2005.  Hodge further admits that as a result, she owes the following in taxes (excluding penalties and interest) to the IRS:  $1,937 for 2001; $1,496 for 2002; $1,908 for 2003, $3,887 for 2004, and $1,680 for tax year 2005, for a grand total of $10,908.

At Wednesday's hearing, Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn indicated that she would be setting the sentencing date as expeditiously as possible.

Hodge had been embroiled in a heated battle for state representative in House District 100 against Democratic primary challenger Eric Johnson, and had even participated in a debate on Saturday.

Hodge remains on the ballot, but Johnson is hopeful he'll win the nomination.

"Now is the time for us to put aside past differences and restore the public’s trust in our ability to govern according to Democratic principles," Johnson said in a statement released Wednesday. (Click here to read Johnson's full statement)

If Hodge should win, a panel of democratic party officials would decide the nominee.

Meanwhile, former Dallas Plan Commissioner D'Angelo Lee was taken into custody Wednesday after a different hearing.

Lee is accused of improper contact with a juror after last year's bribery trial.

Lee was convicted of taking bribes from the same developer. Lee is being help in jail until he's sentenced in that case, sentencing is set for later this month.

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