Five months after pleading guilty to misusing public funds, a former Midtown Redevelopment Authority official was sentenced for his role in a scheme that diverted $8.5M meant for affordable housing and slowing gentrification in the Third Ward into his and his associates’ own wallets.
Todd Edwards, who managed real estate for the city agency, was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in prison, according to the Houston Chronicle.
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Edwards pleaded guilty in April to money laundering and theft after redirecting about $8.5M in public funds between 2011 and 2021. Houston Public Media reported that the money was spent to purchase expensive cars, luxury vacations and pornography.
Edwards diverted cash away from the intended uses to a company he owned as well as two others owned by associates also charged in the scheme. Prosecutors showed that funds were paid to these companies for work that was never completed.
Kenneth Jones of KCK Demolition and Landscaping and Veronica Ugorji of Cortez Landscaping, who were contracted to mow vacant Midtown lots, were also charged in the scheme. Court records show that Edwards was allegedly in a romantic relationship with Ugorji.
Jones pleaded guilty on Monday to money laundering and theft and was ordered to pay $200K in restitution. Ugorji continues to maintain her innocence.
Former District Attorney Kim Ogg said the investigation began after Third Ward residents voiced concerns that lots had been purchased for housing development, but no work was ever done to the properties. This led to Edwards losing his position in 2023 and then being charged the following year, according to ABC 13 Eyewitness News.
Among other fraudulent behavior, Edwards paid one of his own companies $300K to demolish 32 buildings that didn't exist.
"I have a sense that he doesn't realize the full extent of the harm that he's caused, and I feel like that's kind of common for a lot of white collar crime," Ed Pettit, vice president of the Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood, told the Houston Chronicle. "They're sitting behind a desk. They're not actively going out and performing violence against people, but what he did behind his desk to me is a form of violence to the community."
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