(NDG Wire) Monday, U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn sentenced two more of the 13 defendants who were convicted in what has become known as the “Dallas City Hall Corruption Case.”
Judge Lynn sentenced Darren L. Reagan, 50, of DeSoto, Texas, to 14 years in federal prison. Reagan, a community activist and the chairman and CEO of the Black State Employees Association of Texas (BSEAT), was convicted at trial in October 2009 on two of four counts charged, including one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and one count of aiding and abetting in extortion of public officials. He was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on April 27.
Judge Lynn sentenced Rickey Robertson, 43, of Cedar Hill, Texas, to three years in federal prison. Robertson, a local businessman/car dealer, was convicted at trial on two of three counts charged, including conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy to commit money laundering. This morning, Judge Lynn ruled that there was insufficient evidence to show that Robertson knew the funds he received as a part of the scheme were from an illegal source. Robertson was also a principal of RA-MILL, a sham construction firm for which defendant D’Angelo Lee served as a secret partner. Lee was then Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill’s Plan Commissioner. Robertson was also ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on April 27.
Reagan’s association, BSEAT served as a front for his shakedown schemes. On wiretapped conversations played during trial, Reagan told then Mayor Pro Tem Hill to pull developer Bill Fisher’s contracts off the city council agenda while he made more extortionate demands for money from Fisher. Fisher was working as an FBI informant.
The money laundering conspiracy conviction against Robertson that Judge Lynn overturned, revolved around his acceptance of money related to the purchase of four automobiles, coupled with his willingness to place the title to one of Hill’s BMWs in a name other than Don Hill. Robertson was convicted at trial along with Hill; Hill’s wife, Sheila Farrington; Lee and Reagan of pressuring Fisher for hundreds of thousands of dollars in extortion money.
On Friday, February 26, 2009, Judge Lynn sentenced Hill to 18 years in prison; his wife, Sheila Farrington, to nine years in prison; and D’Angelo Lee to 14 years in prison. Hill was also ordered to pay $112,500 in restitution; Lee was ordered to pay $112,800 in restitution. Hill and Farrington were ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on April 27. Lee is presently in federal custody.
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