Concert booking agent arraigned, Brownsville files lawsuit

A Houston events promoter accused of stealing booking fees for bogus concerts returned to Brownsville to face the music.

As Hiro Jamal Hariram, 33, appeared before city Municipal Judge Ben Neece Thursday to be arraigned, City Attorney Mark E. Sossi filed a civil lawsuit alleging breach of contract against Hariram in state district court.

But first, Neece set bonds totaling $50,000 for Hariram, accused of swindling $9,562 from the city, for a cancelled July 4 concert, and $46,000 from Brownsville developer Richard Hope for a concert in September.

At 8:30 a.m. Hariram stood handcuffed and quiet, dressed in a light blue shirt and dark slacks before Neece in Municipal Court at the Brownsville Police Department. Neece arraigned Hariram with his attorney, Michael L. Young, by his side.

In a pre-dawn move, Hariram turned himself in at 6 a.m. at the BPD after driving into Brownsville Wednesday night, his attorney confirmed.

Young argued for a $5,000 bond on each of the two theft charges for a total of $10,000, noting that his client turned himself in, had promoted successful concerts in the area, and that with the higher the bond, the less money would be available for restitution.

At Cameron County Assistant District Attorney Sam Smith’s prodding that the money be returned to the city, Young indicated that this would not occur absent an agreement to drop the charges.

Apprised in court by police investigators of Hariram’s criminal history, Neece set a $20,000 on the city theft charge and a $30,000 bond on Hope’s charge, but said that he could revisit the bond amounts.

Smith argued for bonds totaling $55,000, noting that Hariram had other criminal charges pending against him.

As The Brownsville Herald recently reported, Hariram is accused of murder in Fort Bend County. A $50,000 bond remains in effect on that charge and he is slated to testify against a co-defendant Sept. 15.

Young told Neece that Hariram has been cooperating fully with Fort Bend County authorities and has not missed a court appearance.

Shortly after the arraignment, Neece reduced the bonds to $10,000 and $20,000 respectively for $30,000 combined, saying that he reconsidered the bond amounts after Young requested that he do so because his client was not able to obtain funding for the bonds.

Hariram obtained the bonds from the 24 7 Bail Bond firm and Hariram was released from police custody at 12:15 p.m.

In Brownsville, Hariram is accused of entering into fictitious booking contracts with the city and Hope of Hope Properties. City Parks Director Chris Patterson and City Manager Charlie Cabler signed the city agreement with Hariram dated March 10 without the review of the city’s legal department.

The civil lawsuit that the city filed against Hariram Thursday in the 357th District Court states that the contract Hariram provided to the city to book the group Boyz II Men for July 4 identified the Grabow Booking Agency as the booking agent.

The lawsuit states that Grabow said it never authorized Hariram to contract on its behalf and did not receive any payments from Hariram. The city is seeking recovery of the $9562, interest and attorney fees.

Young said Hariram’s position is that the Boyz II Men concert was cancelled because "there were delays in payment by the city."

The Hope concert was not scheduled to take place until September, added Young, and the issues with the city hindered Hariram’s ability to secure acts.

Young also contends the city rushed to charge Hariram with theft in order to "divert attention" from the actions of Patterson and Cabler, who had not followed guidelines regarding the approval of contracts.

Sossi recently said that his department should review all contracts.