McALLEN — The FBI is searching the offices of one of the engineering firms that is currently negotiating with Hidalgo County to oversee the construction of the new courthouse.
This story has been updated with a statement from Dannenbaum’s counsel.
McALLEN — The FBI is searching the offices of one of the engineering firms that is currently negotiating with Hidalgo County to oversee the construction of the new courthouse.
FBI agents are searching offices across the state in San Antonio, Houston and Laredo, including the McAllen office of Dannenbaum Engineering Corp.
Hidalgo County Commissioners have been negotiating with Dannenbaum and several other firms to serve as the program manager for the proposed courthouse. Hidalgo County Precinct 4 Commissioner Joseph Palacios said he is concerned about the FBI’s presence at the firm and assured that the commissioners court would discuss how to proceed, if at all, with Dannenbaum.
He noted that the other engineering firms that are part of the courthouse project are not being looked at by the FBI, as far as he knows.
Multiple news outlets have reported similar raids at Dannenbaum Engineering offices in Houston and Laredo. In addition, the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety have raided Laredo municipal offices, the Webb County courthouse and other offices as they seized materials and sent employees home, the Associated Press reports.
Webb County officials said in a statement Wednesday that the auditor’s office, information technology and other offices will remain closed until further notice.
In a statement, the FBI declined to reveal what prompted the raid and said there’s no threat to public safety.
Dannenbaum’s counsel, Joel M. Androphy, of Berg & Androphy, released the following the statement today:
“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.”
Check back for updates on this developing story.
