Boyz II Men promoter's attorney surprised by indictment

Attorney Michael L. Young said Monday he was surprised that his client Hiro Jamal Hariram was indicted last week by a Cameron County grand jury on charges of theft.

Hariram, 33, a Houston promoter, is accused of swindling $9,562 from the city for a failed July 4 concert and $46,000 from developer Richard Hope for several failed concerts.

Young claims that he thought he had an agreement with District Attorney Armando R. Villalobos regarding the city’s case.

"I don’t know what’s going on with the DA’s office," Young said Monday.

Young said he and the DA’s office had worked out a deal that Hariram would make full restitution to the city and would not be indicted.

Instead, a grand jury indicted Hariram Dec. 16.

Villalobos, on the other hand, said "none of the offers made by the defendant and his lawyer were acceptable to our office. We certainly were not going to release any of the money seized (from Hariram’s bank account) so that the defendant could use it for expenses such as (for) his lawyer."

A grand jury returned two indictments, one for each case of theft.

Young’s understanding is that an indictment would be sought only regarding the case with Hope.

"And that is not what happened," Young said. "I hate to say that (the DA’s office) reneged on (the agreement), but I don’t know. I sent (the DA’s office) a letter and communicated our agreement to the offer."

A civil suit that the city filed against Hariram is pending. City Attorney Mark E. Sossi said Monday that he also understood that the promoter would not be indicted and that he would be making restitution to the city.

"That is correct," Sossi said. "We’re still in the process of drawing up the documentation," adding that the city, Hariram, and the DA’s office would all have to agree to it.

Sossi’s understanding is that Hariram would agree to provide criminal restitution to the city and Villalobos wouldn’t be opposed if the city did not pursue criminal charges against the promoter.

Asked why the city would agree not to pursue Hariram’s prosecution, Sossi said, "Our interest is in getting the money back."

In July, District Judge Elia Cornejo-Lopez issued a seizure warrant to secure about $12,500 from one of Hariram’s bank accounts.

"The defendant will get his day in court. The money was deposited in the court’s registry in the city’s civil case; thus, restitution for the city should not be an issue in the future," Villalobos said in a written statement to The Brownsville Herald.