A Special Investigations Unit Report - Travel Vouchers
April 2013
Report Number 13-032
Overall Conclusion
The State Auditor's Office's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigated allegations that the chief of staff for a member of the House of Representatives had falsified travel vouchers.
The results of the SIU's investigation led to the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney's Office obtaining two indictments for John Higgins, Jr. on April 10, 2013. The first indictment charged Mr. Higgins with 11 counts of tampering with governmental record, which is a state jail felony. The second indictment charged Mr. Higgins with one count of securing execution of a document by deception with a value of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000, which is a state jail felony. State jail felonies carry a maximum penalty of two years in a state jail and a fine not to exceed $10,000.