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Feb 28, 2008 12:06 pm US/Central
Former Dallas Councilman Fantroy Guilty
James Fantroy Faces 10 Years In Prison For Embezzlement
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
It took the jury 40 minutes to find former Dallas City Councilman James Fantroy guilty of embezzlement.
Fantroy was on trial for allegedly taking tens of thousands of dollars from a community development corporation related to Paul Quinn College, where he served as the treasurer.
In late September 2007, Fantroy said he rejected a deal offered by prosecutors that would have kept him out of prison as long as he pleaded guilty and testified on the government's behalf. He didn't think long about the answer. "No, I'm not pleading guilty to something I didn't do," he told CBS 11 on Oct. 1.
On Oct. 10, he held to his word and pleaded not guilty.
The investigation became public in June of 2005 when the FBI raided former Mayor Pro-Tem Don Hill's City Hall office, house and car. Fantroy's security business and Former Dallas Plan Commission member D'Angelo Lee's car also were searched.
The investigation centered around allegations of bribery in connection with affordable housing projects built by Southwest Housing and its owner, Brian Potashnik.
During the same October interview with CBS 11, Fantroy admitted he knew he faced an embezzlement charge in connection.
A total of 16 people were indicted that morning on charges that stemmed from a federal investigation into alleged wrongdoing at Dallas City Hall.
Fantroy, who uses a wheelchair and has kidney cancer, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will take place later.
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