HISD Executives Found Guilty in $7 Million Bribery Scheme

HOUSTON, Texas — A federal jury has convicted Brian Busby, the former chief operating officer of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), and contractor Anthony Hutchison on all 33 counts related to an extensive bribery scheme involving the district. The verdict was reached after a month-long trial and around six hours of deliberation, leading to substantial prison time for both individuals.

The jury found Busby guilty of conspiracy, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, witness tampering, and willfully filing false tax returns. Hutchison, on the other hand, received a guilty verdict for conspiracy, wire fraud, bribery, and tax fraud. They are expected to face decades in prison when sentenced on July 28.

Prosecutors argued that the duo facilitated a scheme defrauding HISD of $7 million over several years, pressuring district employees to award contracts in exchange for kickbacks and renovation work on Busby’s personal property. Following the guilty charges, emotions ran high among family members present in the courtroom, leading to visible tears during the reading of the verdict.

Busby, who climbed the ranks from a janitor to COO, expressed his shock through his attorney, Dick DeGuerin, who criticized the speed of the jury’s decision. “33 counts, two defendants, it was too quick,” said DeGuerin. Hutchison’s legal counsel, Rusty Hardin, also expressed disappointment but acknowledged the jury’s hard work.

The case began in February 2020 when FBI agents conducted searches of their offices and homes, revealing evidence of collusion intended to defraud HISD. Prosecutors claimed that Busby used his authority to approve contracts to Hutchison’s landscaping company, for which Hutchison returned cash bribes and renovations worth hundreds of thousands of dollars at Busby’s residence.

In the trial, it was revealed that Hutchison allegedly inflated service invoices while falsely billing the district for mowing services, leading to a $6 million loss for HISD. Testimony from five former HISD employees who accepted plea deals corroborated the accusations, detailing bribes received from Hutchison and the pressure exerted by Busby.

During the proceedings, the defense argued that Hutchison’s landscape work was consistently of high quality, negating the need for bribery. However, they were unable to convince the jury, who found substantial evidence against both defendants.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winters laid out the financial discrepancies, presenting evidence of over $3 million in cash deposits by Busby across 18 bank accounts, many of which fell just under $10,000 to evade federal reporting. In contrast, Busby claimed the funds derived from legitimate business, gambling winnings, and support from his ailing mother.

Additionally, Busby and Hutchison were convicted of witness tampering. Evidence presented showed that Busby allegedly instructed others to lie to investigators regarding the awarded contracts.

FBI Special Agent Doug Williams praised the verdict, stating, “Today’s guilty verdict is a step towards justice.” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Nicholas Ganjei, reiterated that theft from educational institutions will not be tolerated, ensuring the public can trust their schools.