Two people implicated in the public corruption investigation of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price have pleaded guilty and struck plea agreements with the Department of Justice, NBC 5 has learned.
Christian Campbell, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and, if his deal is accepted, will serve a maximum three-year prison sentence and restitution.
Campbell admits he was part of an alleged conspiracy with Kathy Nealy to commit bribery and provide benefits to Price through lucrative information technology contracts between January 2001 and June 2011. Now, he will testify against Price.
Campbell had no comment as he walked out of the Earle Cabell federal building in Dallas Wednesday.
NBC 5 spoke to Matt Orwig about the case. He is a former U.S. Attorney. He went through the conspiracy plea with NBC 5, and what it means to both Campbell and Price.
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“It certainly indicates, a plea to a conspiracy count, that he will be testifying or giving information about that alleged conspiracy,” said Orwig. He later added, “What the government will hope for is this is the first that will then tip the next that will then tip the next. What the defense hopes for is everyone will stay strong and stay together from their point of view, and provide a unified defense.”
Karen Manning, 49, pleaded guilty to subscribing to a false and fraudulent U.S. individual tax return and, if her deal is approved, will serve a maximum three-year prison sentence and will have to pay taxes on more than $258,000 in unreported income.
Manning owned the Millennium 2000 art gallery which, according to the Department of Justice, sold African art for Price. Between 2007 and 2010, the Department of Justice said Manning falsely under-reported her gross receipts and sales for her business, most of which had to do with the sale of art for Price.
Price is accused of taking $950,000 in bribes and was indicted in July 2014 after a long FBI investigation.
NBC 5's Julie Fine contributed to this report.
