HOUSTON — A former member of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's executive team was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a bribery charge in August 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
William-Paul Thomas was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison, supervised release for three years and a $5,000 fine. Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy tied to bribery.
According to court documents, Thomas took cash and used his influence to help an unidentified businessman. He was accused of pressuring a Houston Fire Department official to pass the man’s restaurant during the inspection so it could get a temporary certificate of occupancy in May 2020.
Later that summer, he pressured Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials to fast-track a permit allowing the same man’s unidentified bar to be reclassified as a “restaurant” so it could operate during COVID restrictions.
When FBI agents confronted Thomas at his home in November 2020, he agreed to wear a wire.
He pleaded guilty in July 2022.
On Monday, Thomas pleaded with the judge to go easy on him, citing his years of public service.
“In spite of my stellar career, I made a grave mistake," he said. “I am truly remorseful of the harm my actions have caused.”
Judge Andrew Hanen rejected probation.
“None of us wants to be judged by the biggest mistake we’ve ever made in our lives,” Haney said. “I’m confident you’ll serve this sentence and be a positive force in your community.”
When asked for a comment after the hearing, Thomas said, "Happy Monday."
His attorney said Thomas "has been the face or the poster child for public corruption" even though he cooperated.
"I respect the decision, but I do think that someone that has spent 37 years in public service, I think that they should have been considered for probation," Monique Sparks said.
After his arrest, Turner said he found out about the crime when a local newspaper reached out to his office for comment. He said he used to meet with Thomas regularly three times a week.
"His specific job was to be the mayor’s liaison in assisting working with each one of the councilmembers and quite candidly, he did an exceptional job at that," the mayor said before Thomas pleaded guilty in 2022. “The allegations that are being reported from last night, quite frankly, are out of character for the person I have come to know."
The day after he pleaded guilty, Thomas resigned from his job with Turner, citing medical reasons.
“He made a decision based on his email for medical reasons," Turner said. "I respect people for that and if he wanted to talk to me personally, he could have reached out to me, but I’m going to respect and give people this time and the space. But I did not expect anything else. And quite candidly, I’m surprised about the revelation here because it is out of character.”