FBI, DPS raid several city, county government buildings in Laredo

A man wearing a shirt that reads "FBI Evidence Response Team" prepares to open a truck Wednesday April 26, 2017 in front of the building located at 415 Embassy Oaks in San Antonio. A placard in front of the building was identified with the word "Dannenbaum." According to the Laredo Morning Times website, the FBI has raided some city and county buildings in Laredo as well as Dannenbaum Engineering. less A man wearing a shirt that reads "FBI Evidence Response Team" prepares to open a truck Wednesday April 26, 2017 in front of the building located at 415 Embassy Oaks in San Antonio. A placard in front of the ... more Photo: John Davenport, San Antonio Express-News Photo: John Davenport, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close FBI, DPS raid several city, county government buildings in Laredo 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

The FBI carried out searches across the state Wednesday as part of a public corruption probe centered on Laredo and Webb County.

The investigation appears to focus on Dannembaum Engineering, a firm with offices in several Texas cities that has taken on high-profile contracts Laredo.

The buildings searched included Laredo City Hall, the City Hall Annex, the Public Works Department, the offices of Webb County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jaime Canales and the offices of Dannenbaum Engineering in Laredo, San Antonio, Houston and McAllen. The front door to the Dannenbaum Engineering office on McPherson Road in Laredo had been removed by the FBI.

FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee confirmed that agents were present at the offices of Dannenbaum Engineering in Laredo and in San Antonio, as well as the City of Laredo offices. She also confirmed that that Webb County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jaime Canales's offices were the only commissioners' offices where agents were present.

Lee said she was sharing the information so the public would know what areas are being affected by the FBI's presence, but couldn't discuss the investigation. No one has been arrested, she said.

Video: FBI raids engineering firm building

"While we can't discuss the nature of the work we are doing, there is no public safety threat at the locations where we are present," Lee wrote in an email. "The public buildings in the Laredo area were not being evacuated as some concerned citizens may have reported; rather, employees working in certain areas were asked to leave."

Canales could not be reached for comment.

In an emailed statement, Dannenbaum Engineering's Houston lawyer Joel Androphy said: "Dannenbaum Engineering, one of the state's premier firms for infrastructure planning and design, is cooperating with federal authorities regarding government requests for information. Company management is investigating the basis of the government requests. We are uncertain whether the inquiry is focused on the company's activities or those of its business competitors. We intend to comment further when appropriate."

No employees were at the engineering firm's office in Laredo as of late Wednesday morning. Phone calls to the firm's offices in San Antonio and Houston went unanswered.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, the FBI was also at the Webb County building that houses the engineering department.

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Blasita Lopez, acting City of Laredo spokeswoman, said City Manager Jesus Olivares, who took a flight to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday morning, decided to close the three city buildings in addition to the city's Utilities Department. She said that at city hall, the FBI asked employees to step away from their work stations.

Some employees have stayed in the building while others were sent home, Lopez said.

A Webb County spokesman said in a release that the auditor's office, engineering office, I.T. department and Precinct 4 Office have all been closed until further notice.

Standing outside the Courthouse, Webb County Commissioner John Galo said the raids did not surprise him.

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"Corruption in Webb County has been going on for too long," he said.

Dannenbaum contracts

In August 2013, Webb County commissioners voted to award Dannenbaum Engineering a $2.4 million contract for the Loop 20 Stimulus Extension Project from east of International Boulevard to U.S. 59. That project is still under construction. Commissioners also approved an advanced funding agreement resolution between the Texas Department of Transportation and Webb County for a maximum amount of $3.5 million.

In December 2014, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz contested a $1 million-plus contract that City Council awarded to Dannenbaum Engineering.

He said the city selected the firm without posting a request for others to submit their proposals for the design of a 24-inch water line from El Pico/Mines Road connection to Hachar Loop northern boundary line.

Saenz tried exercising his veto power to rescind the prior City Council action to award the contract to Dannenbaum. But a majority of council members voted to overrule his veto.

Council members agreed, however, to direct the internal auditor to prepare a report concerning contracts awarded to engineering/architectural firms over the past five years.

This story will be updated as more information become available.

San Antonio Express-News staff writer Jason Buch contributed to this report.