A former Houston Water Department manager, Patrece Lee, might be released on parole next month, only a handful of months following her 10-year sentence for conducting a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme, as KPRC 2 unearthed last February in their investigation dubbed 'DRAINED.' Despite the hefty prison term handed down earlier this year, Lee's early parole is on the table due to Texas regulations that allow non-violent offenders to become eligible for release after serving a quarter of their sentence, with Lee having accumulated time served alongside additional credit for good behavior.
While the law may be designed for cases such as hers, given the non-violent nature of Lee's crime, the potential for early release has provoked reactions from various corners. Andy Kahan, a crime victims’ advocate affiliated with Crime Stoppers of Houston, vocalized his dissatisfaction with the system, suggesting that the harm inflicted by Lee, despite the classification, extends well beyond a simple breach of law and instead represents a profound breach of public trust, voicing this sentiment: "You hurt so many people. So many people to this day are recuperating from what you did in a trusted position," Kahan told KPRC.
Login the repercussions of the scheme, Lee was found guilty of directing waterline repair contracts to relatives and acquaintances in exchange for financial returns during her time as a maintenance manager; her conviction followed a lengthy probe by the Harris County District Attorney's Office and Texas Rangers exposing her criminal actions, as reported by KHOU. Lee's plea also includes her commitment to testify against her brother and four other defendants entangled within the fraudulent operations, ensuring a broader accountability for the corruption that bled Houston taxpayers of over $700,000.
The impact of Lee's early release on public perception of justice and integrity within public institutions hangs in the balance as the community continues to mend from her actions, and while the Texas Senate Bill 1506 looms—potentially altering parole considerations for future cases by enabling the Board of Pardons and Paroles to bypass annual reviews and postpone parole consideration for up to five additional years—this change came too late to influence Lee's current parole situation. The Harris County District Attorney's Office has not signaled whether it will oppose her potential release publicly.
As the Parole Board readies for deliberation, the public has been invited to submit comments to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, emphasizing the need to include Lee's TDCJ number, 02543109, for proper processing in any correspondence which should be sent to [email protected], according to KPRC 2; voices raised in support or objection will be kept confidential and inaccessible to Lee herself.
