Former Richardson Mayor Laura Jordan, Developer Husband Mark Jordan Found Guilty Of Bribery, Wire Fraud

SHERMAN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - The former Richardson Mayor Laura Maczka, now Laura Jordan and her developer husband, Mark Jordan have each been found guilty on four counts including bribery and honest services wire fraud.

Sentencing will be in the weeks or months ahead but the maximum penalty each faces is 20 years in federal prison and fines on top of that.  

Laura Jordan remains free on bond, but Mark Jordan has been taken into custody out of concern he will flee.

U.S. Marshals brought Mr. Jordan to a federal facility where he will spend the night.

There will be a hearing Friday morning to determine how long he remains in custody.

Federal prosecutor Christopher Eason said, "He's convicted now, so the burden shifted to him to show the judge by clear and convincing evidence that he is not a flight risk now and so we have evidence we think he is a flight risk and they say they have evidence to show he is not."

They have already surrendered their passports.

While they are married now, prosecutors said the allegations of wrongdoing against them occurred during their previous marriages.

"Any jury that looks at the facts where multiple votes are taken at the time where the principals are sleeping together and exchanging money and votes are happening at the same time, that's public corruption and juries can see that," said Joseph Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.

Here is the breakdown on the the charges and the the ones they are guilty of:

Laura Jordan:

GUILTY:   Count 1: Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud

Count 2:  Honest services wire fraud

GUILTY:  Count 4:  Honest services wire fraud

GUILTY:  Count 5:  Conspiracy to commit bribery

GUILTY:  Count 6:  Bribery

Mark Jordan:

GUILTY:  Count 1:  Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud

Count 2:  Honest services wire fraud

GUILTY:  Count 3:  Honest services wire fraud

Count 4:  Honest services wire fraud

GUILTY:  Count 5: Conspiracy to commit bribery

GUILTY:  Count 7:  Bribery

Their conviction is yet another case of public corruption in North Texas recently, and the FBI says they will root out illegal behavior.

Michael Costanzi,Acting FBI Special Agent In Charge in Dallas said, "I want everybody to believe there's an FBI agent behind every tree and selling your office for gain is not going to sustain here in Dallas."

The city of Richardson released the following statement Thursday evening on the convictions:

Earlier this afternoon, a federal jury convicted former mayor of Richardson Laura Jordan and her husband Mark Jordan on four counts each in their federal bribery and corruption case.

From the very beginning, City officials and staff cooperated fully with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice to provide relevant information and testimony.  These officials did their duty to help ensure justice could be achieved.

The City of Richardson is thankful to have legal safeguards in place for the protection of our citizens and government, and is committed to continuing its diligent, daily work to build a bright future for the Richardson community.

Prosecutors said to win approval for his proposal to build apartments near Central Expressway and the Prairie Creek and Canyon Creek neighborhoods, Mr. Jordan gave the former Mayor nearly $60,000 in cash, took her on $15,000 worth of luxury vacations, and spent $24,000 to renovate her house, all while having an affair.

In addition, prosecutors said Mr. Jordan hired Laura for a job at his company for $150,000 a year, which was more than double what he had paid another employee who was licensed.

The government said the former Mayor's support for the project came after she campaigned on a platform of opposing apartments.

During closing arguments on Tuesday prosecutor Christopher Eason told jurors, "This is not about an affair, it's about corruption" and that they were "lying to cover up the corruption."

Eason also said, "She was the first popularly elected mayor in the City of Richardson. She abused her positions of trust at his (Mark Jordan's) direction."

She served as Mayor from May 2013 through May 2015. Council members previously selected the city's Mayor.