San Antonio Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Bribery Scheme

In San Antonio, on July 9, 2015, 51-year-old Oscar Gilberto Rodriguez was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving City of San Antonio contracts announced Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ordered that the former employee of the San Antonio firm Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc., pay over $315,000 restitution and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

According to court records, between 2004 and 2009, the defendant conspired with a former City of San Antonio employee to defraud and steal money from Pape-Dawson and its clients through Rapid Permit Service, Inc. (RPS).  RPS was a hoax company created by Rodriguez and 44–year-old Fernando Jose De Leon, former Assistant Development Services Director of the Land Development Division within the City of San Antonio’s Planning and Development Services Department, to do permit expediting work on Pape-Dawson projects.  As part of the conspiracy, Rodriguez would submit fraudulent RPS invoices to Pape-Dawson for payment.  Rodriguez and De Leon subsequently divided the illegally obtained proceeds.

On October 16, 2014, Rodriguez and De Leon each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and to use interstate communication facilities to facilitate bribery under Texas law. Sentencing for De Leon is scheduled for 1:30pm on August 5, 2015, before Judge Rodriguez.  De Leon faces up to five years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney James Blankinship is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.