Yeah.
Former Harris County Republican Party Chairman Jared Woodfill is being investigated on theft and money laundering allegations, accused of misappropriating funds of at least two of his law firm’s clients, according to an affidavit by the Harris County District Attorney’s office.
Authorities on Monday seized 127 boxes of files, six computers and disk drives from the Houston high-rise office of the Woodfill Law Firm at Three Riverway, according to the returned search warrant filed in Harris County district court on Tuesday.
In his affidavit for the search warrant, which also targeted computer logins, passwords, memory devices, and telephones owned by Woodfill or the law firm, fraud examiner Bryan Vaclavik indicated authorities were seeking evidence used to commit felony offenses of misapplication of fiduciary property, theft and money laundering.
No charges have been filed against anyone in connection with the ongoing investigation. The Harris County District Attorney’s office declined comment on the investigation.
Investigators seized financial records, legal files, documents and correspondence on Monday related to two divorce cases handled by the firm, the search warrant documents show.
The ongoing investigation has nothing to do with Woodfill’s party activities, his attorney Jimmy Ardoin told the Houston Chronicle Tuesday.
Woodfill was chairman of the county Republican Party for 12 years, before losing the post in 2014.
Ardoin said his client had no advance notice of the search and had no details about the allegations beyond the content of the search warrant.
Ardoin said he had been in contact with the district attorney’s office about its review of finances in a divorce case for three to four months and was dismayed that Woodfill was not allowed to provide information voluntarily.
“We believe there’s an accusation of misappropriation of client funds,” Ardoin said. “We have yet to get confirmation of what it is.”
See here for the background. I’m going to try to not get ahead of the facts, and to wait patiently for things to happen in this case – remember, as the story says, no charges have been filed as yet against anyone. But as I think about who Jared Woodfill is, boy will it be tough to do that.
Interesting that this blog has nothing about Mayor Turner planning on fire fighter lay offs, while giving a contract to his [former] law firm. He is just using the office to reward his buddies, and punish those who don’t listen to him. Also what about Avenatti getting arrested for domestic violence.
Charles publishes a lot of posts, generally local and state politics and issues. He is far more generous than I would be in comments/commenters he allows. He might even let you post a link to those topics on your blog, but I don’t know.
Jason,
1. I have posted, more than once and including today, about the potential for layoffs in HFD. There’s a Search box on the upper right of your page, feel free to use it.
2. I don’t give a damn about Michael Avenatti, and have never mentioned him before typing this comment. As Jules said, my focus is on local and state stuff. There are plenty of other places to go for national news.
3. It’s my blog and I write about what I want. By all means, feel free to start your own blog. Blogspot and WordPress.com are still free.
You tell them Kuff, let them start their own blog if they don’t like the way you do things. I agree with you, and thinking of starting one again, as I don’t think Houston has enough fire breathing dragons.
What a shock and a coincidence to see Jared Woodfill in the news for possible misappropriation of funds. I worked many years ago around 1996/1997 for Jared and his partnership practice at that time. Employe for 2+ years. He had and other partner attorneys, including Dr. Neil Frank’s (noted Houstonian meteorologist) attorney son. That partnership and location have since been dissolved formerly on Wirt Road, but I remember Jared as intelligent yet somewhat reckless at the time. His red/orange Ferrari he drove back then was unforgettable. Yes a Ferrari. A nice guy and gentleman but certainly had a sizable ego too. At times I saw hints of carelessness but would not have taken him as one who would take client funds. However, I can easily imagine a scenario all these years later that he might get “creative” on how to finance his ongoing, lavish lifestyle and expensive tastes. So much to say, so little space here. Rock on Kuff. “There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.” -Socrates-