Last week, FBI agents and white-collar crime police detectives questioned Fernando De León, a city official in San Antonio who oversaw the permitting process for real estate development.
We published a story today with more details:
Related: Former San Antonio official Fernando De Leon faces federal charges in alleged bribery scheme
Federal authorities subpoenaed records last year at Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc., the largest engineering firm in San Antonio, as part of an investigation of permitting practices at the city’s Planning and Development Services department.
Two sources familiar with the inquiry said Pape-Dawson Engineers is not the target of the investigation. FBI agents appear to be focused on Rapid Permit Services Inc., a small company that Pape-Dawson had hired in the past to file development plans with the city.
Records and interviews show Rapid Permit Services is owned by Rebeca De León Lopez, who is the sister of Fernando De León, an assistant director of land development at the city who was questioned Friday by the FBI.
Federal agents and white-collar crime police detectives seized De León’s computer and files from his office Friday at the Development Services “One Stop” Center at 1901 S. Alamo St. That same day, City Manager Sheryl Sculley placed De León on administrative leave.
Asked about the FBI inquiry, engineer Gene Dawson Jr., a well-known figure in the real estate industry, responded by e-mail to the San Antonio Express-News, stating: “Pape-Dawson confirms that we did meet with the FBI last summer, but due to the ongoing investigation, we have no further comment.”
You can check out the incorporation papers of Rapid Permit Services, which were filed about 10 months before De León was promoted to assistant director at the city in July 2006. The city also has a flow chart showing the employees who worked for De León and their duties.
