Dallas City Employee Allegedly Bribed Business Owner to Sidestep Code Violations: Affidavit

A former city employee in Dallas, Daelena Howard, was arrested on bribery charges for reportedly accepting money from a local business owner to avoid issuing code citations. Detailing the events, arrest documents reveal that Howard, while employed in the Code Compliance Services Department, solicited Oscar Rivera for $290 per month. In exchange, she promised not to include his business in the city’s code enforcement database. Over a few months, Rivera transferred a total of $700 to Howard via Zelle. Following her arrest on March 26, 2026, Howard was placed on leave and has since left her position with the city. The investigation details were sourced from Dallas Police records and the City of Dallas.