Former JP pleads guilty in RRAD scam
James’ plea agreement involves misdemeanor, $25K fine; other men faced felonies
Former Bowie County Precinct 7 Justice of the Peace Patrick James pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Tuesday in a scheme involving phony invoices to Red River Army Depot.
James, 54, appeared with Texarkana lawyer Jason Horton at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in a fourth-floor, Texas-side courtroom in Texarkana’s federal building. James and six other men were charged with felonies last year in an indictment handed down in the Texarkana division of the Eastern District of Texas.
James is among five defendants who own or owned businesses in the area that sold tires, equipment or repair services. Former RRAD truck fleet supervisor Benny Woodard, who died of a single gunshot wound in April 2013, and two of his runners allegedly conspired with the business owners to defraud RRAD of millions by invoicing the federal agency for goods and services never delivered.
James is the only defendant whose plea agreement includes a misdemeanor conviction rather than a felony. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker said James’ arrangement with the government includes a voluntary resignation of any position he held as a member of the judiciary. James was suspended by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct from his duties as justice of the peace and as Hooks, Texas, municipal judge after the indictment became public.
James formally entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor tampering with a governmental record. Locker
said James has agreed to pay a $25,000 fine before sentencing and does not owe any restitution. James faces up to a year in federal prison.
Five other defendants have entered guilty pleas to felony theft of government property and agreed to pay more than $1.3 million collectively. One defendant who is seriously ill and in hospice care has not appeared in court.
James will return to court for formal sentencing once a presentence investigation report, which will include a sentencing recommendation under federal guidelines, has been completed. Craven said she expects the report to take less time than average and told James he can expect the report’s submission to the court in 15 to 30 days.
Locker said the government will move to dismiss felony charges of conspiracy and theft of government property pending against James at his future sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder.