HOUSTON – Five employees of a Houston towing company face up to 20 years in prison, accused of scamming customers out of thousands. Consumer expert Amy Davis first shed light on the allegations against USA Auto Collision Center three weeks ago. With the help of city council members, the owner scored a valuable contract, then investigators say he stuck drivers with exorbitant fees. Even after a police raid, city council delayed a vote to end the contract.
Channel 2 Investigates found more than $35,000 USA Auto Collision owner Richard Gonzalez gave to city council members since 2011. After members voted to give him the Safe Clear contract in November, Gonzalez got access other constituents did not. In March, when Gonzalez felt Houston Police were treating him unfairly, Councilman Dwight Boykins, who took $2500 from Gonzalez in 2013, called a closed door meeting in his council office with an HPD chief, lieutenant, sergeant and Gonzalez so the business owner could complain about another HPD investigator. Boykins maintains, even after that meeting, he didn't know about all of the consumer complaints against Gonzalez.
Council members who received donations from USA Auto Collision owner
"You know what? Hindsight, I heard them, but I didn't hear them," Boykins said. "I wish they would have said 'Councilman, can I visit with you in private?' You hear what I'm saying? Cause that would have stopped it then."
We now know HPD was in the middle of an undercover investigation of USA Auto and Gonzalez; and investigators could not reveal those details. Rice University Baker Institute Political Science fellow Mark Jones told Davis Gonzalez' contributions to council members make it appear some members are looking out for him over the taxpaying consumers.
"Really, you're putting people in a very vulnerable situation," Jones said. "When you get that influence, what suffers are the citizens and their rights sometimes."
City Council is expected to vote to possibly cancel Gonzalez' contract Wednesday. Boykins said he will vote in favor of cancelling it. Channel 2 will be at the council meeting to let you know what happens.