FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former Director of Bexar County Housing Authority Indicted

June 21, 2005

San Antonio, Texas:  District Attorney Susan D. Reed today announced that Christine Torres, age 49, was indicted for the felony offense of Theft by a Public Servant, Misuse of Official Information and Abuse of Official Capacity.  Torres is the former Executive Director for the Bexar County Housing Authority.  The indictment stems from allegations she converted to her own personnel use for the benefit of her son a Chevrolet truck owned by the Housing Authority.  The offense of Theft by a Public Servant is a State Jail Felony punishable by up to two years in a state jail facility and a fine of up to $10,000.  The offense of Misuse of Official Information is a third degree felony punishable by between 2 and 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division and fine not to exceed $10,000.  The offense of Abuse of Official Capacity is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4000 fine.

During the criminal investigation of the misuse of the vehicle, other allegations involving fraud in securing Section 8 housing benefits for Torres’ daughter-in-law, Adriana Vann, age 47, came to light in which both Torres and Vann were indicted on two counts each of felony theft and Securing the Execution of a Document by Deception, which are State Jail Felony offenses.  The allegations involve securing payments designated for Section 8 rent subsidies that were improperly paid directly to Vann and a family member.  

For more information please contact Cliff Herberg, White Collar Crime Division Chief, at 335-2404.