Almost overlooked in the Hurricane Katrina news is this Chronicle article regarding the sentencings of two former Houston officials — Lee Brown Administration chief of staff Oliver Spellman and building services director Monique McGilbra — who entered into plea bargains in connection with their testimony for the prosecution in the criminal trial of Cleveland entreprenuer Nate Gray. Both Mr. Spellman and Ms. McGilbra admitted that they accepted cash and gifts from Mr. Gray in connection with his attempts to gain their influence in approving him for lucrative city contracts.
Last Friday, Ms. McGilbra received a three-year sentence in the criminal case against here in Cleveland, Ohio, and she received a concurrent two and a half year sentence earlier this week on a related criminal case against her here. Mr. Spellman received probation and a $10,000 fine last Friday in Cleveland for taking a $2,000 bribe from Mr. Gray.
Earlier posts on the Gray trial and the related investigation of Brown Administration officials are here, here, here, here and here.