FORMER CITY OF BROOKSHIRE OFFICIALS INDICTED FOR BRIBERY

(HOUSTON, Texas)– A sealed indictment charging former City of Brookshire Mayor Keith Allen Woods and former City of Brookshire Department of Public Works Director Henry Anthony Cheney with violations of federal law arising from a bribery scheme has been unsealed following the arrest of both men, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. 

Keith Woods, 42, currently the Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Brookshire, and Henry Cheney, 56, both of Brookshire, Texas, are accused of soliciting, demanding and accepting bribe money or kickbacks from a local contractor in exchange for the awarding of city contracts. Both men were arrested by FBI agents today without incident. Woods and Cheney made their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley today and were released on bond.

“Public corruption prosecutions remain a priority for this office as underscored by the allegations announced in today’s indictment,” DeGabrielle said.

The six-count indictment returned under seal on Jan. 17, 2008, was unsealed today following the arrest of Woods and Cheney. According to allegations in the indictment, Woods, who served five terms as mayor of the City of Brookshire and is currently the city’s Economic Development Coordinator, and Cheney, formerly the city’s Department of Public Works Director, conspired with one another beginning in June 2005 to use their official positions with the City of Brookshire to commit Federal Programs Fraud. They corruptly solicited, demanded, accepted and agreed to accept monies from a contractor, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with the award of city contracts. The City of Brookshire is located approximately 30 miles west of Houston in Waller County. 

“Our democracy depends on a healthy, efficient and ethical government, and corruption erodes the values upon which it is founded,” said Special Agent in Charge Andrew R. Bland III,  Special Agent in Charge of the Houston FBI Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate the allegations of corruption in this case and all other public corruption matters brought to our attention. Anyone with information regarding public corruption is encouraged to report it."

Woods is also charged with four counts of using the cellular telephone system in interstate commerce, to promote, manage or facilitate the bribery of a public official in violation of the Travel Act. Woods and Cheney are each charged individually with Federal Programs Fraud.

A conviction for conspiring to violate Federal Programs Fraud or the Travel Act carries a penalty of imprisonment of not more than five years and/or a fine not to exceed $250,000. A conviction for violating any one of the several substantive counts of Federal Programs Fraud carries a penalty of imprisonment of not more than 10 years and/or a fine not to exceed $250,000. 

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by special agents of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Wright and Larry Eastepp are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.