Opinion ID: 22977
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Maldonado's Involvement Grows

Text: 36 The day before, January 17, Betti Maldonado met with Dogium and Molineiro to discuss her lobbying effort for the Cayman Group. Maldonado explained which council members were ripe for influence. Some council members, she said, 37 they're real different than our Latinos. They are like, You tell me what's in it for me first, and I'll vote on it. . . . But our guys are like, I gotta see if it's right first, then they'll vote on it. You . . . can play with them more. 38 The next day, Molineiro noted that Yarbrough had already received $1500 from the Cayman Group; Maldonado responded that Yarbrough was a very close friend of mine and agreed to see if he wanted more money. 39 On January 22, Maldonado again met with Molineiro and Dogium at the Cayman Group's office. Speaking of Felix Fraga, John Peavy, and Wayne Duddlesten, Dogium said to Maldonado, take care of these three people. At the same time, Dogium said he did not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable by what he had asked of Maldonado. Maldonado responded, no, it's not uncomfortable at all. She also described her relationships with various members of the council: [W]hen they deal with me, it's more, ah--with [Councilman] Yarbrough, okay, I can get away with more cause he and I are friends--it's very up-and-up, you know. I've never had a relationship with them where I've done what Ben did. But Maldonado emphasized that she did not feel uncomfortable by what Dogium had asked of her. Maldonado also predicted that Yarbrough would support the Duddlesten plan, though she thought he was going to see how much [he] could get out of the deal. 40 Maldonado arranged for Councilman Yarbrough to meet Dogium at the Cayman Group's offices January 24. Before she left to get Yarbrough, Maldonado asked Dogium and Molineiro to increase her compensation to $9000, plus a bonus if the Cayman Group was successful. The three also discussed whether they ought to have cash on hand for Yarbrough. Maldonado said, with him, it'd probably never hurt. Maldonado returned to the Cayman Group's office with Yarbrough. Yarbrough and Dogium met in private, and Yarbrough received another $1500 in return for his pledge to support the Duddlesten plan. While Yarbrough and Dogium met, Maldonado said Yarbrough told her that, like the other council members, he too wanted to profit from the hotel project. 41 On January 31, the city council approved the Duddlesten plan and authorized the legal department to enter into negotiations with Duddlesten. After the vote, Reyes told Molineiro and Dogium they should not give Councilman Peavy the promised second payment because he failed to pledge his support in advance of the vote. Dogium disagreed, stating that they should fulfill their commitment to Peavy, and Reyes agreed to schedule a meeting. Dogium met Peavy and Reyes at a Houston restaurant February 20. When Dogium arrived, Reyes said, John is ready to leave. . . . He told me that you're going to give him something. Do it right now. The three walked outside, where Dogium thanked Peavy for his support and handed him an envelope containing $2500. 42 In early April, Dogium told Maldonado that Reyes had fallen out of favor with the Cayman Group. Dogium informed Maldonado that he wanted a provision in the hotel contract that would secure the Cayman Group's participation, and the two discussed how to achieve this end. Dogium reminded Maldonado that his influence over the council was unquantifiable: I'm out a significant amount, you know, we had cash disbursements to council members that I can't put on a piece of [paper]. I know, Maldonado responded. Maldonado explained that she did not know how much influence Dogium had over the council: 43 [S]ince before you guys, I don't really know how much they've--I can't be naive about it either--how much they actually get [in] cash stuff, you know, not on the records? But I . . . was working on this other project for this huge engineering firm and they were giving out money like I've never seen before. 44 Maldonado suggested how she could help Dogium: I'm very honest with you. I'm going to tell you how you can get the most for the least. . . . I'm never going to tell you, give just to give. I know what you can get away with, with who. Maldonado, however, said she wanted to check with Reyes before she proceeded. On April 12, Maldonado reported that Reyes had approved her plan to secure contract language favorable to the Cayman Group. 45 On April 19, Maldonado told Dogium and Molineiro that she would determine whether council members wanted additional payments for their continued support: I'm gonna just feel them to see, . . . are they just . . . . gonna be interested 'cause it's the right thing, or do they want something more. . . . [W]e can start off by assuming that they're all gonna want something, if you want to do it that way. On April 23, Maldonado told Molineiro she had obtained commitments from council members Yarbrough, Sanchez, Saenz, and Fraga. She explained that she had not yet secured Councilman Castillo's support and recommended that they prepare a package for him. 46 On April 29, Maldonado told Molineiro she had scheduled a meeting with Castillo that afternoon at a restaurant. Molineiro responded that he would prepare an envelope for Castillio, including a letter containing the needed contract language. As Maldonado watched, Molineiro counted out $3000 and placed it in an envelope. Molineiro suggested Maldonado show Castillo the letter and then signal for the cash. At the restaurant, Maldonado gave Castillo the letter; Molineiro left the table and Maldonado handed the envelope of cash to Castillo, who placed it in his portfolio. 47 The next day, April 30, Maldonado reported that the meeting with Castillo had gone very well. She also told Molineiro that she had scheduled a meeting with Councilman Fraga for the following afternoon. Maldondado told Molineiro to prepare two grand for Fraga because he is in the process of reorganizing his office and he's hiring a consultant to . . . do that, and he really, really needs it. The next day, Molineiro gave Maldonado an envelope containing $2000 and the requested contract language. At the meeting, Fraga reviewed the language and expressed support for the Cayman Group. When Maldonado tried to pass him the cash, however, Fraga declined to accept it. 48 On May 1, Maldonado and Molineiro met Councilman Peavy at a Houston hotel. The meeting was arranged by Maldonado the previous day, and before the meeting, Maldonado and Molineiro discussed how they would pass Peavy the payment. When the three met, Peavy reviewed the contract language and stated that he fully supported the Cayman Group. As he did before, Molineiro got up from the table. Maldonado then offered Peavy the cash-filled envelope, but he refused to take it. 49 Later that day, Maldonado expressed frustration over the botched payments: I have an intimate, friendly relationship with these guys. But like I told you, I had never, ever dealt with them that way. Never. Maldonado contrasted her own experience, however, with that of certain members of the council: John [Castillo] has already been in this forever, so it's no big deal. Michael [Yarbrough] is also . . . no big deal. . . . And really, Peavy normally is no big deal. Normally. Maldonado said she should have paid Fraga and Peavy privately. The Cayman Group's office, however, would not work: [T]hey don't really know you guys. What if you have a camera in there? . . . That's what they think. One of them already told me that! The next day, May 2, Maldonado was confronted by agents of FBI and agreed to cooperate with their investigation.