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Former HISD Official and Contractor Convicted in $6M Fraud and Bribery Scheme

A federal jury found Brian Busby and Anthony Hutchison guilty on all 33 counts, including conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and tax fraud, after a four-week trial.

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Overview

  • Brian Busby, former COO of Houston ISD, and contractor Anthony Hutchison were convicted on all charges, including conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and witness tampering.
  • The scheme involved overbilling the district by more than $6 million for landscaping services and funneling bribes to HISD officials to secure contracts.
  • Evidence included a handwritten ledger detailing bribe payments and testimony from five former HISD officials who admitted to accepting bribes from Hutchison.
  • Both defendants also filed false tax returns, with Busby failing to report nearly $3 million in cash deposits and Hutchison deducting bribes and gambling debts as business expenses.
  • Sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2025, with each defendant facing up to 20 years in prison per count and fines of up to $250,000 per charge.