Mayor Of Hunt Co. City Arrested

We had a warrant and we executed it The mayor of a Hunt County city was arrested on Thursday, accused of engaging in organized crime, Hunt County Sheriff's Office spokesman Brian Alford said. via NBC5i.com

[Itzme]

This is the latest in the Greenville Herald Banner...

Published: January 26, 2008 12:26 am

Constable: Conspiracy involving mayor stretched over four counties

By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff

The mayor of West Tawakoni was involved in a widespread criminal conspiracy involving fraud and the trafficking of illegal narcotics, according to the Hunt County Constable who filed an engaging in organized crime charge against William Stausing.

The office of Precinct 4 Constable Cullen Smith issued a release Friday, alleging Stausing, 60, was part of a conspiracy which included participants in three other counties and noting additional arrests are expected

Officials in West Tawakoni intend to meet next week to discuss Stausing’s status as mayor. Stausing was arrested on the warrant Thursday, then later released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

Smith issued the release Friday morning, claiming the arrest was the result of a continuing criminal investigation into an ongoing conspiracy to defraud both individuals and “legitimate businesses” out of money and property. The proceeds of the conspiracy, the release said, were being used by members of the conspiracy for personal gain,“and to engage in the trafficking of illegal narcotics”.

Smith said his department is working in cooperation with law enforcement agencies in three other North Texas counties where the alleged members of the conspiracy were being sought, adding “several more” arrests were anticipated in the near future.

West Tawakoni City Administrator Cloy Richards said Stausing will be one of the subjects of an upcoming meeting of the City Council.

“We have scheduled a called meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday,” Richards said. The agenda for the meeting includes a closed door executive session to discuss both the contract of Police Chief Jack Schultz,“and, obviously, the situation with the mayor, whatever the situation might be.”

Richards said that under the state statutes governing the operation of West Tawakoni, a general law city, should the Council seek Stausing’s ouster as mayor, it must ask a state district judge to order the removal.

“Obviously, we are studying the Open Records Act closely,” Richards said.“We have not received a letter of resignation, or anything like that.”

[Local dude]

OK, so we are talking about a major multi-county criminal conspiracy and it is being handled by a constable's office?

[Tawakoni resident]

Oh thank god someone is finally going to do something about the corruption in our local government and the surrounding areas. There are meth and crack junkies everywhere, cooks working with the police with pay offs. Gangs from big cities come here to collect thier drugs to sell that are made here or brought in from Mexico. Also illegal gambling slot machines with 8 liners setup all over thanks to our mayor and his council and crounies. Also Jack Shultz has long been associated to these crimes and in some cases rumored to have commited greveous crimes on those who stand in his way. This ladies and gentlemen is not an issue about a 60 yo man, the mayor who I have known personally for 10 years but about the mentality of the powers to be. Please stop at mothing to clean up this garbage.

[stonecold]

Before you start pointing fingers you had better have your facts striaght or at least some prove to back up your acusations. I have known to Cheif for more than 10 years and have never seen him do anything outside of the letter of the law. West Tawakoni is a better town now then it was 10 years ago and it looks like it will only be getting better.

Tawakoni resident wrote:

Oh thank god someone is finally going to do something about the corruption in our local government and the surrounding areas. There are meth and crack junkies everywhere, cooks working with the police with pay offs. Gangs from big cities come here to collect thier drugs to sell that are made here or brought in from Mexico. Also illegal gambling slot machines with 8 liners setup all over thanks to our mayor and his council and crounies. Also Jack Shultz has long been associated to these crimes and in some cases rumored to have commited greveous crimes on those who stand in his way. This ladies and gentlemen is not an issue about a 60 yo man, the mayor who I have known personally for 10 years but about the mentality of the powers to be. Please stop at mothing to clean up this garbage.

[unknown]

is this what this countries comming to even our officials are living a junky life or at least hidding one? our officials are to be above reproof , not with in corruption, lies, stealing, drugs,killing, ectra ! they say they want to help clean up our cities but in reality they are helping it go to ruin?
and god is watching all of this I hope you know there is a consequence.

[Tawkoni Land Owner]

I agree with you. The Tawakoni cities have been one of the most lawless areas in Hunt County, or East Texas for that matter for as long as I can remember. There's no way that the meth labs and crime could continue at the rate it has without the law looking the other way to say the least.It is time that the corrution gets cleaned up finally. It seams funny that not another word has come out about the story since late January. Also funny that a mere $10,000 bail was required. If there are other arrests pending, then what are they waiting for?

Tawakoni resident wrote:

Oh thank god someone is finally going to do something about the corruption in our local government and the surrounding areas. There are meth and crack junkies everywhere, cooks working with the police with pay offs. Gangs from big cities come here to collect thier drugs to sell that are made here or brought in from Mexico. Also illegal gambling slot machines with 8 liners setup all over thanks to our mayor and his council and crounies. Also Jack Shultz has long been associated to these crimes and in some cases rumored to have commited greveous crimes on those who stand in his way. This ladies and gentlemen is not an issue about a 60 yo man, the mayor who I have known personally for 10 years but about the mentality of the powers to be. Please stop at mothing to clean up this garbage.

[Local Dude]

Did anything ever come of this? Indictments? Trials? Anything?