Politically Powerful Houston Developers Arrested On Federal Corruption Charges

[musicman]

It was just before 9am today when FBI agents arrived with their corruption catch at Houston's federal building. Two of the city's most politically powerful developers, Andrew Schatte and Michael Surface, were arrested on public corruption charges. Details of the indictments are still sealed at this hour.

Their arrests will likely trigger political shockwaves through town. Before this morning, Schatte had a long list of close friends in Houston government, from city hall to the commissioners court to the Houston Firefighters Pension Fund.

Three years ago, Schattes' name first surfaced in a Justice Department investigation. Houston's former building director, Monique McGilbra, and Mayor Brown's former chief of staff, Oliver Spellman, were snared in that bribery case, but at the time, Schatte escaped indictments.

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[Orikal]

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[mojeaux131]

So, there aren't substantial connections between developers and the city, eh? It's all about the free market, right?

Delicious.