D'Angelo Lee

Bill Fisher handed the FBI a chance to clean up City Hall. Does that make Fisher Mr. Clean?

Back in Federal Court, Awaiting Sentencing for the Brian and Cheryl Potashnik (A Live Blog)

Sam MertenBrian Potashnik back in July 2009​[Update: Cheryl Potashnik was given two years probation and has to pay $50,000 to the U.S. Attorney's Office within seven days.] It's sentencing day for Brian and Cheryl Potashnik this morning at the Earle Cabell Federal Building, as U.S. District J ... More >>

Guilty! Guilty! And: Guilty! The Final Verdict of the Federal City Hall Corruption Trial.

Hey, Don Hill, how many verdicts left to come down in the City Hall corruption trial?​[Update at 10:23 a.m.: The judge's office sends word that Ron Slovacek was found guilty on all three counts of the superseding indictment -- counts 10, 12 and 19, to be specific. More details to come.]The staff's ... More >>

The Wiretap That Tainted Our View Of Ron Slovacek Long Before His Conviction

Sam MertenWhy does Lee look so good in that suit? Gotta be the aerobics in the morning and yoga at night.​On July 23 -- the second day of Brian Potashnik's testimony in the Dallas City Hall corruption trial -- prosecutor Marcus Busch played a series of damning wiretaps for jurors. He paused th ... More >>

Two Who Took Guilty Pleas in City Hall Corruption Case Were Sentenced Today

Hey, Don Hill, how many years in prison did guilty-plea-taker John Lewis get today?​John Lewis and Kevin Dean were among the first two to plead guilty, both to one count of extortion, in the Dallas City Hall federal corruption case -- Lewis in March of last year; Dean, in June. When Lewis pleaded ... More >>

Judge Hands Down Two More Lengthy Sentences in City Hall Corruption Case

Sam MertenBetween the four of them -- from left to right: D'Angelo Lee, Sheila Hill, Darren Reagan and Don Hill -- you're looking at 55 years of federal prison time.​And speaking of the U.S. Attorney's Office ...Jim and Sam were otherwise occupied this morning and couldn't make it back to the Earl ... More >>

Shocking: Another City Hall Corruption Trial Has Ended With Another Guilty Verdict

Hey, Don Hill, how many City Hall federal corruption trials are left?​Didn't see this coming: Jibreel Rashad's guilty! Rashad, of course, was among the myriad defendants named in the feds' indictment in the Dallas City Hall corruption case, and, like those who came before him -- those who pleaded ... More >>

Judge Agrees Two Charges in Corruption Case Warrant Further Consideration, Dismisses Motions for New Trials

Sam MertenDon and Sheila Hill cross Commerce Street this afternoon after Judge Lynn said she'd consider arguments against honest services and money laundering charges.​Four of the five defendants convicted last month of bribery and extortion in the City Hall corruption trial gained traction in ... More >>

U.S. District Judge Denies Two of Sheila Hill's Dismissal Motions. But She'll Now Interview the Juror Who Spoke to the Dallas Observer.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn​Last week, as you no doubt recall, Sheila Hill's attorney, Victor Vital, requested a new trial or evidentiary hearing based upon possible jury misconduct preceding all those guilty verdicts in the Dallas City Hall federal corruption trial. Now we know how U.S. Dist ... More >>

Interview With City Hall Corruption Trial Juror Triggers Motion for New Trial Based on Jury Misconduct from Sheila Hill's Attorney

FBIDon Hill's testimony about the fax machine found at his residence in June 2005 tickled juror Nedra Frazier so much that she may have let it slip that she either was talking about the case before deliberations or listening to others talk about it.When we spoke with juror Nedra Frazier hours after ... More >>

State Rep. Terri Hodge Has a Few Months Before Her Trial's Scheduled to Start

State Rep. Terri Hodge​Mark your calendars: March 8. That, says Jack Fink, is when state Rep. Terri Hodge will finally stand trial, per Judge Barbara Lynn's decision. Say what? You forgot Hodge was indicted along with Don Hill, D'Angelo Lee and the rest of the found-guilty gang? Then you should go ... More >>

Don and Sheila Hill, the Unfair Park Interview

Photos and cutlines by Danny FulgencioAn inclination for religious references did not save Don Hill from lawful judgment.A little more than 24 hours after a jury found Don and Sheila Hill guilty on a total of 12 counts in the City Hall corruption case, the two sat down with me for a lengthy intervie ... More >>

Stay Tuned: The Verdict Is In! (Update: Don Hill's Guilty of Extortion, Bribery and More)

Sam MertenFour of the five co-defendants, from left to right: D'Angelo Lee, Sheila Hill, Darren Reagan and Don Hill​Sam's on his way to the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse, where, at around 10:30 a.m., we'll find out what says the jury in the Dallas City Hall federal corruption trial ... More >>

Now That Don Hill's Been Found Guilty, What About "Business as Usual" at Dallas City Hall?

Sam MertenDon and Sheila Hill and attorney Victor Vital after the jury handed down its guilty verdicts today in the Dallas City Hall federal corruption trial​So, it turns out Patrick "Buzz" Williams was right. No matter how you do the accounting, how you structure the contracts, how you interpret ... More >>

As Hills Look Forward to Appeal, Don Says Brian Potashnik "Did What He Had To Do"

Sam MertenAt approximately 10:40 this morning, a packed courtroom on the 15th floor of the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse filled with friends and family of the co-defendants, members of the media and lawyers sits abuzz with anticipation. This is it. Finally. U.S. District Judge Barbar ... More >>

Don Hill's Back on the Stand. For the Last Day? We Sure Hope Not! A Live Blog, Of Course.

Sam MertenDon Hill and Sheila Farrington Hill after Don't first day of testimony, which was, like, what? A month ago?​So, the third-string team is in to cover what will probably be Don Hill's last day of testimony. Appropriate, then, that the morning's starting off with technical difficulties wit ... More >>

Prosecution "Salivating Like a Junkyard Dog Staring at a T-Bone Steak" As Defense Continues Questioning Don Hill (A Live Blog)

Sam MertenD'Angelo Lee and Don HillAs testimony concluded yesterday in the City Hall corruption trial, it appeared as though the prosecution would begin its cross-examination of Don Hill after Doug Greene, D'Angelo Lee's attorney, finished what is expected to be his relatively short questioning of H ... More >>

So, Don, How Ya Feelin' After Your First Day on the Stand?

Sam MertenOf course, Hill couldn't actually answer the question as he's restricted from speaking to the media, but this photo we snapped during the media frenzy that followed today's testimony from the former mayor pro tem tells the story. Sure, it was merely a verbal "Wikipedia entry" as Robert de ... More >>

At City Hall Federal Corruption Trial, Former DHA CEO Says Hill Wanted a Lott of Love

Former Dallas Housing Authority CEO Ann Lott​This morning at the Dallas City Hall federal corruption trial at the Earle Cabell, we are getting insight into the involvement of Ann Lott, former CEO of the Dallas Housing Authority, in this whole sorry mess. I'm not sure where we're headed. But so f ... More >>

It may be time for some defendants in the federal corruption trial to play Make a Deal.

A New Defense Emerges in the Dallas City Hall Federal Corruption Trial: Entrapment!

Sam MertenD'Angelo Lee, who's apparently going to claim he was entraped by the feds​Big news. Doug Greene has just revealed the core strategy of the defense in the federal Dallas City Hall corruption trial.Entrapment.He has also just been administered a smart spanking from the judge for wasting h ... More >>

As the City Hall Corruption Trial Wraps For the Week, Schutze Gets a Clear Look At the Feds' Case.

Sam MertenThe government has cast plan commission member D'Angelo Lee as Don Hill's henchman.​O.K., this morning I think we are getting a more clear look at the government's case in the Dallas City Hall bribery case, in which former city council member Don Hill is accused of using racial affir ... More >>

Don Hill's Latest Defense: He Just Wasn't Powerful Enough to Influence Deals

Sam MertenWhat, them worried? D'Angelo Lee, Don Hill and Sheila Farrington outside the federal courthouse​[Editor's note: Jim's on deadline, and Sam's on vacation. So Trey Garrison's down at the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse live-blogging the City Hall corruption trial for Unfair Pa ... More >>

Far As Al Lipscomb's Concerned, Jury Oughta "Dump" Case Against Don Hill and Others, Feds Should Apologize to Fantroy's Wife

Sam MertenAl Lipscomb, who was told during a trial break by Laura Miller that he was looking "dapper as always," stands outside the Earle Cabell Federal Building yesterday afternoon.Once again, we found former council member Al Lipscomb in the courtroom at the City Hall corruption trial yesterday, ... More >>

With FBI Informant's Credibility in Question, Prosecution Decides It's Laura Miller Time

Sam Merten Miller crosses Commerce Street this morning, along with husband Steve Wolens and daughter Alex.Moments ago, folks standing outside the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse got a sneak peek at the prosecution's next witness in the City Hall corruption trial: former ... More >>

Defense Uses Factual Résumé, Church Donation and Ties With Leo Chaney to Fluster Key Witness In City Hall Corruption Case

Sam MertenVictor VitalLow-income housing developer Brian Potashnik appeared frustrated and confused Monday in the federal City Hall corruption trial as a trio of defense lawyers rattled the prosecution's star witness while attacking his previous testimony. Near the end of a long day on the stand, he ... More >>

Prosecution Hands Over Key Witness to Defense Without Proving Don Hill's Guilt, Bolsters Case Against D'Angelo Lee

Sam MertenD'Angelo Lee crosses Commerce Street in front of the Earle Cabell Federal Building Thursday afternoon.The second full day of testimony from affordable housing developer Brian Potashnik strengthened the prosecution's case against former city plan commissioner D'Angelo Lee in the City Hall c ... More >>

Potashnik May Be the Prosecution's Smoking Gun, But He Sure Didn't Sound Like One

Sam MertenBrian PotashnikNearly all of the 16 jurors grabbed their notebooks and focused on Brian Potashnik as the prosecution Wednesday morning called the witness expected to provide the most damning evidence in the City Hall corruption case. But while Potashnik's testimony raised concerns about th ... More >>

Prosecution Looks to Right Stumbling City Hall Corruption Case By Calling Brian Potashnik

Sam MertenDon and Sheila Hill left the courthouse Tuesday afternoon in good spirits.An admittedly nervous Steve Williams spent all of Tuesday afternoon on the stand discussing his eight-year tenure as Don Hill's administrative assistant, pushing the anticipated debut of developer Brian Potashnik to ... More >>

Mitchell Rasansky Says He "Got the Sense" Some Council Members Tried to Kill FBI Informant's Affordable Housing Deals

Brian HarkinWill the jury get to hear from Mitchell Rasansky? Based on what he told us, we're going out on a limb and saying yes.Mitchell Rasansky, who served with Don Hill on the Dallas City Council for six years and is listed as a potential witness in Hill's ongoing federal corruption trial, says ... More >>

Don Hill’s Legal Defense May Be Less About the Facts and More About Martyrdom

It's Early Yet, But So Far, No Quid Pro Quo (Updated: Now, Finally, a Live Blog)

Hey, Don Hill, how you feeling after yesterday's testimony and tapes?I will miss some of this morning's testimony in the City Hall corruption case, because this is the day of the Observer's weekly story meeting. But based on what has happened already in court, a certain summary or caution is appropr ... More >>

Brian Potashnik Will Appear in Federal Court -- To Testify Against Don Hill (Now, a Live Blog)

Cheryl and Brian PotashnikI'm at the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse waiting for the afternoon session of the City Hall corruption trial to launch. The feds presented their case this morning. The only substantial news was a confirmation that affordable housing developer Brian Potashnik ... More >>

Serving the "Ends of Justice," Judge Delays City Hall Trial Till June

How many shopping days left till Christmas, Don Hill? Dang, then we'd best hurry! A couple of housekeeping items this morning, including the disappointing news of a scheduling change. You can cross January 20 off your calendar if you were planning on attending the trial of former Dallas Mayor Pr ... More >>

Domino No. 2 in the City Hall Corruption Case Falls: Andrea Spencer Pleas Guilty to Bribery Conspiracy

Look Out, Don Hill. Because Allen McGill Isn't Going Down Alone.

Mrs. Don Hill Speaks! And Says She and Her Hubby Are Innocent! No, Really?

Don Hill Slides From Mayoral Candidate to Alleged Criminal

How did that happen?

Got Time to Kill? Here's That 166-Page City Hall Indictment You've Been Waiting For.

Street Tax

Federal Indictments Imminent in City Hall Corruption Case, Says Channel 11

Skinned

Don and Sheila and D'Angelo Makes Three

A Real Double Feature

Paper Trails

Morning News waits and waits to acknowledge CBS-11's scoop of an ethically challenged state rep

Thumb Job

At City Hall, it's not called extortion. It's empowerment.

Letters

The Ride, Stupid

Instead of calling for riots, just say where you got your car

D'Angelo

Is there a better symbol for City Hall?