S
herman Roberts, a 70-year-old local real estate developer, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to bribing two Dallas City Council members, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. This is one of several bribery cases linked to Dallas City Hall officials in recent years. Two other developers have been charged with similar crimes: Devin Hall, who pleaded guilty in August 2020, and Ruel Hamilton, who is awaiting retrial.

    Roberts was previously indicted on a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery in late 2020. He allegedly bribed former Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and former City Council Member Carolyn Davis to advance his projects in exchange for cash payments. Court documents show that Davis supported Roberts' developments, including Serenity Place and Patriot's Crossing, in exchange for thousands of dollars in cash and payments.

    Caraway agreed to stop the city from exploring other bids for construction work on the Patriot's Crossing project in exchange for hundreds of dollars in cash and a $2,000 monthly stipend. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and tax evasion in 2019 and was sentenced to 56 months in federal prison.

    Davis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery but died before her sentencing. Roberts faces up to five years in federal prison and is scheduled for sentencing on March 12.