FBI Continues Search In JWP Case
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - CBS 11 has learned the FBI visited Tootsie's Braiding Gallery this week.
It's where Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price gets his braids done. Other than confirming it, the owner of Tootsie's Hair Gallery, Maureen Jones, declined comment on what agents were looking for, but a source familiar with the request says the FBI wanted a copy of Jones' lease and rent payments.
Property records show the building that houses the hair gallery is owned by Price's political consultant Kathy Nealy.
The agents visit comes after they executed search warrants on both Nealy and Price's houses, cars, and offices -- agents also searched the house and office belonging to price's assistant dapheny fain.
The FBI isn't commenting on why its conducting the searches or issuing subpoenas to a variety of people who know Price.
But legal experts, including the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, John Ratcliffe, say it's typical for investigators to cast a wide net to search for evidence. "Search warrants lead to more search warants as information is examined by prosecutors and investiators and it usually leads to more questions and more warrants."
In another development, one of Price's political enemies, former Commissioners Court Judge Jim Foster, says he raised questions about Price's role on the county's bail bond board. Price is one of 11 members on the board that regulate the bail bond industry.
Foster says two and a half years ago, he chose to replace Price on the board. "I felt like the board needed some more openess and transparency and i felt like i could provide that so i removd him and appointed myself on that board." But Foster says an hour later, Price was reappointed onto the board by County Clerk John Warren.
Price hasn't been officially accused of wrong-doing as a member of the bail bond board, and he hasn't been charged with any crime. CBS 11 has left messages with Price and Nealy, but haven't heard back.
