Caraway testified for the government last month that he was bribed by Dallas developer Ruel Hamilton, who was convicted by a jury. Caraway is serving almost five years for taking money in a separate corruption case — one involving school bus cameras.
By Kevin Krause
Former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway has received a five-month reduction in the sentence he is serving for fraud and tax evasion, in exchange for his recent testimony in a different public corruption case.
Caraway, 69, who is in poor health, had sought time off of his sentence of four years and eight months — given for his part in a school bus-related bribery scheme. Government prosecutors had recommended he receive a 10-month credit for his cooperation in last month’s trial of Dallas developer Ruel Hamilton.
The Oak Cliff native testified last month against Hamilton, who was convicted on June 29 of bribery by a federal jury for paying Caraway and former council member Carolyn Davis for official help with his low-income housing projects.
Caraway resigned from the Dallas City Council and pleaded guilty in August 2018 to taking about $450,000 in bribes and kickbacks over several years from men responsible for the downfall of the school bus agency Dallas County Schools. Davis pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme in 2019 but died shortly afterward in a car crash.
Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn sentenced Caraway in April 2019 for his role in the school corruption case. He could have received up to seven years.
Caraway reported to Big Spring federal prison in West Texas in May 2019.
“Judge Lynn felt five months was more appropriate,” said Caraway’s attorney, Michael Payma, about the sentence reduction. “Dwaine knew that there are no guarantees, and he is grateful for the five months reduction.”
In an order signed on Wednesday, Lynn wrote that she recognized the “relative significance of Caraway’s testimony in light of the government’s other evidence” in the Hamilton trial. She also noted in her order “issues directed to Caraway’s credibility while testifying.”
Caraway’s loquacious and colorful testimony in the Hamilton trial turned to spectacle at times during cross-examination, with Lynn repeatedly telling him to wait for questions before answering and not to speak over the defense attorney.
Caraway described for the jury the circumstances of Hamilton giving him a $7,000 check in 2018, a payment that prosecutors called a bribe.
But Hamilton’s defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, grilled Caraway at length about cash in cigar boxes that he received from undercover FBI agents posing as developers — alleged conduct for which he was never charged.
Caraway, at times combative and evasive, changed the subject when asked about his various questionable dealings while in office. He also attempted long-winded explanations and digressions when asked yes or no questions.
Lowell said Caraway has a history of “deception.” He played recordings of conversations between Caraway and FBI agents and accused Caraway of lying to them. Caraway denied or said he couldn’t recall some details suggested by Lowell but acknowledged breaking the law, saying he made a “mistake” and has “paid for it.”
Hamilton, 65, is scheduled to be sentenced in November and faces up to 25 years in federal prison.
