HOUSTON – Three residents have been found guilty for their roles in a massive bail bond fraud conspiracy that put violent criminals on the streets. Kamaiga Gholar, 31; James Bateson, 46; and Katherine O’Brien, 26, were convicted of conspiracy and wire fraud following a rigorous trial.
The trio is accused of falsifying documents to manipulate the bail bond system in Harris County, TX, from September 2020 to January 2022. They submitted doctored paycheck stubs, enabling AABLE Bail Bonds to facilitate the release of inmates who should have remained incarcerated.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei emphasized the severity of the offense, stating, “This fraudulent scheme attacked the integrity of the bail bond system and endangered the public.”
During the trial, Judge Lee H. Rosenthal considered evidence of jailhouse calls and testimonials from across the country. The inmates who benefited from the bonds faced charges ranging from aggravated assault to drug trafficking.
Gholar, Bateson, and O’Brien face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine each. Sentencing is scheduled for December 31. They are currently on bond pending this hearing.
The investigation was led by the FBI, Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day, Stephanie Bauman, Anthony Franklin, and Jay Hileman are handling the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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