A Dallas developer admits to bribing city officials for housing project approvals, exposing a corruption scandal shaking local leadership.
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DALLAS, TX
– A long-standing corruption case in Dallas reached a pivotal moment as Sherman Roberts, a prominent real estate developer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. The 70-year-old former head of the City Wide Community Development Corporation could face up to five years in federal prison after admitting to bribing city officials to secure loans and low-income housing tax credits for his apartment projects.
Roberts’s plea, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, sheds light on the deep corruption within Dallas’s city leadership, involving projects intended to address affordable housing needs.
Bribes for Housing Projects
According to court documents, Roberts paid bribes to both Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and City Council Member Carolyn Davis in exchange for their support of his projects, including Serenity Place, Runyon Springs, and Patriot’s Crossing.
Davis played a central role in promoting Serenity Place by lobbying the City Housing Committee and demanding other developers withdraw their funding applications to ensure Roberts’s project would proceed. She also pushed for the approval of a 9% low-income housing tax credit and a $1.9 million loan for the development.
Court records include an incriminating text exchange where Roberts told Davis after the loan vote, “Right now you and me are making money.” Davis later asked for additional payments, stating she needed “just a few dollars” more, and Roberts agreed.
The bribery extended to Caraway, who helped Roberts address challenges with the Patriot’s Crossing project. Caraway agreed to stop the city from issuing a request for proposal for the project, instead ensuring it went to Roberts.
In exchange, Caraway received several hundred dollars in cash and a $2,000 monthly stipend. During their discussion, Caraway reportedly asked, “How much is the project worth?” Roberts responded, “I won’t forget about you. That’s where the money is… the money has never been an issue.”
Other Players and Legal Fallout
Roberts’s plea is the latest chapter in a case that has already seen significant legal repercussions. Davis, who pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to commit bribery involving federal benefits, died in a car accident before her sentencing. Caraway, who pleaded guilty the same year to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and tax evasion, is currently serving more than four years in federal prison.
Additional developers linked to the case include Devin Hall, who pleaded guilty in 2020 for his role in the Grand Park Place project. Another developer, Ruel Hamilton of AmeriSouth Realty Group, is awaiting retrial on charges of conspiracy and bribery connected to the Royal Crest housing project.
Upcoming Sentencing and Broader Implications
Roberts is scheduled for sentencing on March 12, 2025, where he could face up to five years in federal prison. The case has highlighted the vulnerabilities in Dallas’s city governance, raising concerns about how affordable housing projects are managed and the ethical standards of those in power.
As the city reckons with the fallout of this corruption, residents and officials alike are left questioning how these actions may have undermined trust in local government and impacted critical community projects. The outcomes of related cases may offer further insights into how deep this issue runs—and what steps are needed to prevent similar breaches of public trust.
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