Former Houston City Employee and 6 Others Charged in Water Bribery Case

Harris County prosecutors have charged seven people, including a former high-ranking city of Houston employee, in connection with an alleged bribery and kickback scheme involving millions of dollars in emergency water pipe repair contracts.

Prosecutors said Friday that Patrece Lee, a former public works project manager, gave a $4.5 million contract to a shell company she controlled and received bribes totaling $322,000 in exchange for sending contracts to at least four suppliers. Prosecutors also alleged that Lee directed $400,000 of the $4.5 million contract to a shell company owned by his brother.

Lee, 45, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of abuse of official power and four counts of bribery, all punishable by jail or prison time. Lee had not been formally charged as of Thursday afternoon.

The other six people, including Lee’s brother, also face criminal charges ranging from abuse of official power to bribery to tampering with a government document. Prosecutors said the scheme ran from mid-2022 to late 2023.

“We expect public officials to serve and become poorer, not richer, through their service, and that the public benefit from the sacrifices required by public service,” said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg , during a press conference on Friday. “So we don’t have much empathy or pity for those who would steal from the public by seizing the position of power given to them by the public.”

The accusations follow months of reporting by KPRC-TV, which first uncovered Lee’s ties to the companies that received the contracts.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire cited the prosecution of Lee as an example of his administration’s fight against public corruption and waste.

“We will go where the facts take us,” said Whitmire, who took office in January. “I can assure you that during my mandate, whether it is the city hall, METRO, any government agency, the airport, wherever there are conflicts of interest and where an investigation reveals facts corruption, we will work in partnership with the investigating agencies to ensure people are held accountable.

Whitmire also said he couldn’t ask the Houston City Council for more money until his administration “can ensure that every dollar is honestly used to operate city government.” Whitmire unveiled a $6.7 billion budget plan earlier this month, which includes funds for a long-standing agreement with the city’s firefighters union.

Ogg also took aim Friday at Whitmire’s predecessor, Sylvester Turner, saying the current mayor’s cooperation with his office “stands in stark contrast to the last seven years.”

Turner supported Ogg’s opponent, Sean Teare, in the March Democratic primary for district attorney, insinuating that Ogg continually blamed others for problems within the district attorney’s office and used his power as a political weapon. Teare easily defeated Ogg in the primary.

This story will be updated.

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