Source: CommunityImpact.com

A trustee of the Houston Community College System board has been convicted of bribery related to his tenure on the board. Chris Oliver will be sentenced Aug. 28 for bribery of a public official concerning programs receiving federal funds, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Abe Martinez’s office announced Monday once the case was unsealed. Oliver was initially charged in March and plead guilty May 15 in U.S. District Court. According to Martinez’s office, Oliver admitted to accepting bribes “in exchange for the promise of official actions related to his duties as a member of the HCC board of trustees.” Oliver was first elected to the board in 1995 and previously held the position of board chairman. Oliver was permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine, according to Martinez’s office. Requests to HCC for comment were not returned by the time of publication.