► Texas lobbyist Fred Bosse of Houston; greedy crook, ethically dispossessed Print E-mail
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Lobbyist Fred Bosse of Houston; greedy crook, ethically destitute

 

From about 1994 through 2001, Fred Bosse was a state representative from the 128th District in Houston. Subsequently, Fred Bosse, an attorney became a lobbyist.
 
While providing continuing disservice to his Houston constituents, Fred Bosse apparently engaged in several shenanigans in regards to his expenditure of campaign funds, which you’ll find under the following headings below. It certainly appears that each and every one of these scams was instituted for the sole purpose of unjustly enriching Mr. Fred "The Boss" Bosse.
  1. Making lease payments with campaign funds on a used Jaguar to himself
  2. Paying maintenance for condo Fred Bosse owned with campaign funds
  3. Purchasing furnishings for a condo Bosse owned with campaign funds
  4. Spending over $11,000 to attend a two week class at Harvard
  5. Legislative office equipment purchased with campaign funds
  6. Campaign funds paid by Bosse to his law firm, Junck (seems apropos) & Bosse 
  7. Fred Bosse the Lobbyist 
1.  Fred Bosse’s shenanigans involving purchase of used Jaguar in 2000
 
Sometime in late May or early June 2000, Fred Bosse purchased a used Jaguar from someone in the Los Angeles area with campaign funds claiming it was to be used in Austin and for ceremonies. The Jaguar was delivered to Fred Bosse sometime in early June 2000 as evidenced by the following campaign expense entry.
  • Allstates Worldwide Delivery, Westlake Village, CA, 20000606, 569.25, Delivery charges on vehicle for use in Austin and ceremony.
Fred Bosse used campaign funds for repairs on the Jaguar as follows:
  • Larry's Garage, Houston, 20000411, 1023.15, Repairs on vehicle used in Austin
  • Ingram, Steve, Jersey City, 20000626, 366.00, Replacement top for vehicle for use in Austin
  • Momentum Jaguar, 20000706, 775.97, Repairs on vehicle for use in Austin
  • Momentum Jaguar, 20000908, 537.24, Repairs on vehicle for use in Austin
  • Momentum Jaguar, 20001017, 920.65, Repairs on vehicle to use in Austin
  • Momentum Jaguar, 20001125, 1513.67, Repairs on vehicle for use in Austin
  • Olde English Jaguar Austin, 20010123, 459.37, Repairs on automobile used in Austin
Fred Bosse further expended campaign funds on the Jaguar as follows:
  • Harris County Tax Assessor, 20000616, 1075.92, Tax on vehicle for use in Austin
  • USAA Insurance, 20000821, 111.60, Insurance on Austin vehicle
  • USAA Insurance, 20001110, 338.25, Insurance on vehicle for use in Austin
  • USAA Insurance, 20010512, 451.00, Insurance on Austin vehicle
Jaguar Lease Payments made to Fred Bosse’s Condo
 
Unbelievably, Fred Bosse claims to have made “lease payments” on the used Jaguar to: 13410 Holly Park, Inc. at: 13410 Holly Park in Houston as follows:
  • 20000602, 762.00, 1st and last months rent on lease of vehicle for use in Austin and ceremonies
  • 20000703, 381.00, Lease payment on vehicle for use in Austin and ceremonies
  • 20000731, 381.00, Lease payment on vehicle for use in Austin and in ceremonies
  • 20000906, 381.00, Lease payment for Austin vehicle
  • 20000930, 381.00, Lease payment for Austin vehicle
  • 20001101, 381.00, Lease payment on car to use in Austin
  • 20001204, 381.00, Lease payment on automobile for use in Austin
  • 20010105, 381.00, Lease on vehicle for use in Austin
  • 20010129, 381.00, Lease payment on vehicle in Austin
  • 20010301, 381.00, Lease payment on vehicle used in Austin
  • 20010331, 381.00, Lease payment on vehicle in Austin
  • 20010430, 381.00, Lease payment on Austin vehicle
  • 20010531, 381.00, Lease payment on Austin Vehicle
How in the hell do ya make lease payments to yourself on a “used jaguar” that was paid for with campaign funds? Go to (http://tinyurl.com/ybhxe3b) at the Travis County web site to see evidence that Bosse owned this condo. How does that work Freddy Baby? Inquiring minds would like to know!
 
Lastly, Fred Bosse’s campaign reports never disclose the Jaguar as a campaign asset nor does it disclose how it was disposed of when he left office in 2001, all of which he was required to report.
 
2.  Maintenance costs for Fred Bosse’s Condominium
 
It is undisputed that Fred Bosse was the owner of this condo. In fact, below is a copy of his ownership that I obtained on the Travis County web site (http://tinyurl.com/ybhxe3b) As you can see, Fred Bosse has owned the condo since January 1991.
 
Owner's Name
BOSSE FRED M
Mailing
Address
13410 HOLLYPARK DR
HOUSTON, TX 77015-2901
Location
620 S 1 ST 311
Legal
UNT 311 BLD C OAK KNOLL CONDOMINIUMS AMENDED PLUS 2.392 % INT IN COM AREA
Deed Date
01071991
 
Despite his longtime ownership of this condo, Fred Bosse had the chutzpah to use campaign funds to pay $3,488 for air-conditioning and hearing repairs. He also paid $3,984 for maintenance fees, plus $1,671.12 in property taxes as shown below.
  • Oak Knoll HOA, 1016 Mopac Circle, #201, 20000104, 1992.00, Maintenance on Austin Condominium
  • American Conservation and Air, Austin, 20000308, 3300.00, Air conditioning repair to Austin condominium
  • Osgood Services, Austin, 20001204, 188.00, Air-conditioning/heating repair at Austin condo
  • Wells, NeldaTax, 20001103, 1671.73, Property tax on Austin condo
  • Oak Knoll HOA, 20010105, 1992.00, Annual assessment for maintenance fees Austin condominium
3.  Furniture/Supplies for Fred Bosse’s Condominium
 
Fred Bosse also used campaign funds to purchase the following furnishings for the condo he owned.
  • Furniture Warehouse, Austin, 20000902, 282.00, Tables for Austin condo
  • Montgomery Wards, Austin, 20001222, 602.62, Refrigerator for Austin condo
  • Lowe’s, Austin, 20010129, 258.76, Blinds for Austin condo
  • Sam's Club - Austin, 20010107, 692.13, Television and stereo for Austin Condo
  • Sam's Club - Austin, 20010219, 582.67, Bed and frame for Austin Condo guestroom
  • Sam's Club - Austin, 20000903, 1029.97, Bed and mattress for Austin condo
  • Sam's Club - Austin, 20000906, 62.79, Supplies for Austin condo
  • Its New to Me, Austin, 20000907, 319.34, Couch for Austin condo
  • Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 20000907, 944.16, Chairs for Austin condo
  • Furniture in the Raw, Austin, 20010107, 419.47, Furniture piece for Austin Condo
Fred Bosse’s campaign reports do not disclose any of the above as “assets” of the campaign nor what happened to these assets once he left office in 2001, all of which was required to be disclosed.
 
4.  Campaign costs to send Fred Bosse to Harvard University
 
Sometime in the summer of 2000, Fred Bosse found it appropriate to spend $8,700 for tuition to attend the “Senior Executives in State and Local Government” course at Harvard, which lasts about two weeks.  In addition, Freddy spent another $2,740.72 for expenses, for a grand total of $11,440.72.
  • Harvard University, 20000612, 8700.00, Tuition for Senior Executives in State and Local Government course
  • 20000514, 232.00, Airfare for course at Harvard
  • 20000721, 95.00, Dining with Classmates at Harvard Course
  • 20000709, 236.92, Accomodations upon arrival at Harvard course
  • 20000715, 187.50, dining with classmates at Harvard course,
  • 20000728, 67.60, Lunch in connection with course at Harvard
  • 20000704, 1799.40, Laptop computer to use at Harvard and for state matters
  • University Wine 20000713, 122.30, Refreshments for apartment at Harvard
What is truly disturbing is Fred Bosse spending $95.00 and $187.50 respectively to “dine with classmates,” and $67.60 for a single lunch. Why was it the responsibility of Bosse’s contributors to pay for meals for his classmates at Harvard? And how in the hell could he have spent $67.60 for a lunch in 2000?
 
And of course then we have Fred spending $122.30 at a Wine store for refreshments for his apartment while he was at Harvard. Under what theory of Texas Law is a legislator permitted to bill his contributor’s for boozing it up? To be fair to Freddy, if he purchased a couple of bottles of of "Pouille-Fuisse" wine (vintage 1996) produced in Burgandy, France then maybe his conduct is acceptable, right?
 
5.  Legislative Office Equipment Purchases made w/Campaign Funds
 
Fred Bosse used campaign funds to purchase the following equipment for his office; however, none of these items were ever disclosed as campaign assets nor did he ever disclose the whereabouts of these assets when he left office. Is it possible that Freddy Baby absconded with these assets in total contravention of Texas law?
  • Circuit City, 20010612, 746.90, Digital camera for use at District office
  • PriceClick.com Inc, 20000117, 286.90, Camera for District Office
  • Office Depot, 20000704, 1799.40, Laptop computer to use at Harvard and for state matters
  • Sam's Club - Houston, 20000114, 172.10, Radio for District Office
6.  Campaign Funds paid by Fred Bosse to his law firm – Junck (seems apropos) & Bosse
 
Fred Bosse used campaign funds to pay his law firm located in an office he owned at 13410 Holly Park in Houston as follows. What’s somewhat amazing is the fact that the claimed “overhead expenses” and/or “administrative expenses” always came out to the same “even” dollar amount. Kinda gives a new name to ‘consistency,” if ya know what I mean.
  • Junck & Bosse, 20000731, 300.00, Overhead expenses relating to state matters
  • Junck & Bosse, 20000831, 300.00, Overhead expenses for state matters
  • Junck & Bosse, 20000929, 300.00, Overhead expenses for state matters
  • Junck & Bosse, 20001031, 300.00, Office expenses for state work
  • Junck & Bosse, 20001129, 300.00, Overhead expenses for state services
  • Junck & Bosse, 20001228, 300.00, Overhead relating to state matters
  • Junck & Bosse, 20010131, 400.00, Administative expenses
  • Junck & Bosse, 20010228, 400.00, Administrative expenses
  • Junck & Bosse, 20010330, 400.00, Administrative expenses
  • Junck & Bosse, 20010430, 400.00, Administrative expenses
  • Junck & Bosse, 20010531, 400.00, Administrative expenses
  • Junck & Bosse, 20010628, 400.00, Administrative expenses
7.  Fred Bosse the Lobbyist
 
The Texas Ethics Commission web site shows that Fred Bosse lobbies for the below named clients with estimated income as follows as of Jan. 2009.
  • Harris County Emergency Services District No. 6 – less than $10,000
  • Houston Products Processing Inc. - $25,000 - $49,999.99
  • Southern Crushed Concrete LLC in Houston - $99,999.99
  • W. W. Webber LLC in Houston - $49,999.99
The total income declared by Bosse is over $200,000, which of course doesn’t include any income he derives from the practice of law.
 
To assure that the above named clients are fully aware that Fred Bosse is an ethical dwarf, I have this date (Feb. 11, 2010) provided them a link to review this expose to assure that they are fully aware of his prior conduct.
 
8.  Conclusion
 
Unfortunately, pursuant to Texas Law, if a scofflaw such as Fred Bosse is able to conceal the illegal conversion of campaign funds to personal use (criminal misdemeanor) for three years (statute of limitations), then he/she cannot be criminally prosecuted and/or even made to reimburse the contributors that were ripped-off. Is this a joke or what?
 
Under Ohio Election Laws, the statute of limitations is either two years or one-year from the time the misconduct/crime was discovered.
 
Since the Texas Ethics Commission is nothing more than a repository for campaign records, it has never to my knowledge ever instituted on its own an investigation for the return of ill-gotten gains by public officials. Put simply, the Texas Ethics Commission gives a bad name to “toothless watchdogs.”
 

 

 
 

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