Former Texas state Rep. Terri Hodge was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to fraud and false statements on her income tax return. She is scheduled to report to the Bureau of Prisons on June 22.
She was part of the Dallas corruption case involving affordable housing developers Brian and Cheryl Potashnik, who ran Southwest Housing.
As a condition of her plea agreement, Hodge resigned from the state House of Representatives in March. She was first elected to the post in 1996.
Hodge was among 14 public officials and their associates charged with various offenses related to a bribery and extortion scheme involving affordable housing developments in the Dallas area.
According to federal officials, Hodge, who had supported Southwest Housing projects, asked Brian Potashnik for assistance in the form of affordable housing for herself within her political district. Beginning in April 2002, the Potashniks made arrangements to provide Hodge with housing at one of their developments.
Hodge moved into the apartment on April 1, 2002, and renewed her lease, at the same rental rate of $200 per month, in November 2002 and again in March 2003, according to a factual resume filed.
The market rate for the unit was $899 per month, and the difference was paid by the Potashniks, according to federal officials. Hodge also accepted new carpeting.
The total value of the rental subsidies, utilities, and carpeting provided was $32,541, none of which was included in her tax returns, said federal officials.
In February, Hodge pleaded guilty to fraud and false statements on her tax returns. She did not admit to bribery.
Cheryl Potashnik has pleaded guilty to bribery in connection with benefits given to Hodge, and Brian Potashnik has pleaded guilty to bribery of various public officials. They have not been sentenced.
