The investigation and indictment of a corporate executive in Austin is shedding new light on the FBI's case against Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price.
The Department of Justice Monday announced 58-year-old Helena Tantillo surrendered to authorities in Austin Monday on two charges of making false statements to investigators and was released on bond.
The indictment claims she funneled money to Price through his associates to secure a contract between Dallas County and her company to digitize county records. (Read the indictment at the bottom of the page).
One aspect of the investigation into Commissioner Price alleges he "solicited and accepted a stream of benefits to corruptly influence and reward him for taking action or refraining from taking negative action, as specific opportunities arose, concerning certain businesses' pursuit of Dallas County contracts," according to a statement in Tantillo's indictment.
Tantillo's bid for the business included paying a consultant, Christian Campbell, $5,000 per month and "also included lobbyist/consultant Kathy Nealy, as a subcontractor. Nealy had been Price's campaign manager and advertised herself as someone with influence in Dallas County," according to Tantillo's indictment.
"An aspect of the corruption investigation concerned Nealy's and Campbell's roles in the financial benefits paid to Price, including transfers of money," prosecutors said in the indictment.
The indictment alleges Tantillo increased Campbell's monthly fee from $5,000 to $10,000 for two subsequent months and then presented Nealy with a check for $7,500 for "consulting services." The next day, the indictment alleges, Nealy paid Price $2,500 and he later voted in favor of approving Tantillo's business as the vendor.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Investigators claim when Tantillo was questioned by the FBI she changed her story several times.
If convicted, Tantillo faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, per charge.
The FBI and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Walt M. Junker and J. Nicholas Bunch and Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Miller are prosecuting.
