Updated July 12 at 5 p.m.
Houston Community College released a statement Wednesday regarding trustee Chris Oliver's recent bribery conviction in U.S. District Court. The board of trustees will hold a special meeting Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at 3100 Main St., Houston.
“Trustee Christopher Oliver still holds the District IX position on the HCC board of trustees," HCC said in its statement. "The board does not have the authority to remove a board member from elected office. That process is governed by Texas law, and is referenced in HCC Board Policy BBC (Legal).”
Posted July 10 at 7:07 p.m.
A trustee of the Houston Community College System board has been convicted of bribery related to his tenure on the board.
Chris Oliver will be sentenced Aug. 28 for bribery of a public official concerning programs receiving federal funds, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Abe Martinez's office announced Monday once the case was unsealed.
Oliver was initially charged in March and plead guilty May 15 in U.S. District Court. According to Martinez's office, Oliver admitted to accepting bribes "in exchange for the promise of official actions related to his duties as a member of the HCC board of trustees." Oliver was first elected to the board in 1995 and previously held the position of board chairman.
"It was revealed in open court at the plea hearing that Oliver met with another individual on several occasions at various restaurants and coffee shops in Houston where he accepted cash payments in exchange for promising to use his position to help that person secure contracts with HCC," Martinez's office said.
Oliver was represented by the federal public defender's office in Houston. His lead attorney, Philip Gallagher, declined to comment.
Oliver was permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine, according to Martinez's office.
HCC trustees are elected in single-member districts to staggered six-year terms. It was not immediately clear Monday whether Oliver would remain on the board or how a sitting board member could be removed.
Requests to HCC for comment were not returned by the time of publication.
According to Oliver's trustee biography on HCC's website, Oliver owns and operates the construction final cleaning company Tekoa Property Management Group Inc. A phone number listed online for the company was disconnected Monday.
Oliver's biography said he considered the construction of Willie Lee Gay Hall, HCC's south campus, to be his greatest achievement while on the board.
"His vision is for HCC to provide every student, even those who need a second chance, with opportunities to own their future," Oliver's biography said.
