AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A longtime aide to the Texas Agriculture Commissioner has been indicted on charges of soliciting thousands of dollars in bribes from farmers in exchange for licenses to produce hemp.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Todd Smith, a top aid to Commissioner Sid Miller, was indicted Tuesday by a Travis County grand jury. Smith, who was arrested in May, faces charges theft and commercial bribery.
Under Texas law governing the hemp industry, licenses are supposed to cost $100. Smith was accused of soliciting tens of thousands in cash from prospective applicants.
Smith’s attorneys says that he is not guilty of the charges.
In a statement Attorneys Sam Bassett and Perry Minton said:
“We are disappointed that the Travis County District Attorney has obtained an indictment against Todd Smith, he was not invited to address the grand jury. He is not guilty of these charges and intends to vigorously defend himself against the allegations made by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.”
(Copyright 2022 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from The Associated Press.)