Texas Jury Convicts Ex-NFL Player in $6 Million Schools Landscaping Scam

Posted on: April 22, 2025, 04:10h. 

Last updated on: April 22, 2025, 04:10h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • Ex-NFL Star Convicted in HISD Fraud Case
  • Scheme Involved Overbilling and Kickbacks
  • Gambling Losses Fueled Financial Misconduct

A federal jury in Houston, Texas has convicted former Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills running back Anthony Hutchison of orchestrating a fraud and bribery scheme that bilked the Houston Independent School District (HISD) out of $6 million.

Anthony Hutchison, Brian Busby, Houston Independent School District (HISD), Southwest Wholesale, Bribery and Fraud Conviction
Anthony Hutchison arriving at the federal court in Houston at the beginning of his trial last month. He was found guilty of bribing former HISD COO Brian Busby in a $6M fraud scheme. (Image: Houston Chronicle)

Hutchison, 64, who retired from pro football in 1985, conspired with former HISD chief operating officer Brian Busby to systematically overbill the district for landscaping services, such as lawnmowing and mulch, between 2013 and 2019.

The jury agreed with prosecutors that Hutchison bribed Busby and other HISD officials in return for awarding HISD contracts to the former athlete’s landscaping company, Southwest Wholesale. Busby was found to have accepted $530K from Hutchison in kickbacks.

Crime Fueled by Gambling Losses

Prosecutors contended that Hutchison used the profits from overbilling the district to pay off debts that were the product of a prodigious gambling habit. Hutchison charged the HISD more than twice what he paid for supplies, and then marked it up another 20%, according to the indictment.

Hutchison was convicted of one count of conspiracy, 11 counts of wire fraud, six counts of bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, two counts of willfully filing false tax returns, and one count of witness tampering.

Busby was found guilty of one count of conspiracy, six counts of bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, five counts of willfully filing false tax returns, and one count of witness tampering.

Southwest Wholesale was initially awarded a contract with HISD to provide landscaping for two dozen campuses. This expanded over time to several hundred properties until Southwest Wholesale eventually became the district’s exclusive landscaping contractor.

WSOP Champ Testifies

During the 19-day trial, jurors heard testimony from a litany of witnesses, including HISD officials, former and current employees of Hutchison’s companies, FBI and IRS agents, and experts on the speed at which grass grows.

That’s because Hutchison would charge for mowing school lawns four times a month, an unnecessary frequency, according to expert testimony.

The court also heard from professional poker player Ayaz Mahmood, a World Series of Poker bracelet holder, who regularly played pot limit Omaha with the defendant.

Mahmood testified that Hutchison was a poor player who lacked the necessary “control and maturity” and probably lost “99% of the time.” The witness said he once saw Hutchison lose more than $300K in a single day.

The witness tampering convictions relate to Hutchison’s and Busby’s efforts to convince a former manager of HISD’s Facilities, Maintenance, and Operations Department to lie to the FBI.

Both men are expected to receive lengthy prison terms when sentenced.