Two plead guilty in John Wiley Price corruption scandal

Two people connected to the John Wiley Price corruption scandal pleaded guilty on Wednesday, with one man ready to testify for the prosecution against Price.

Christian Campbell, 45, a technology consultant, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Campbell had been indicted last July along with Price.

Campbell, who accepted a plea deal, faces a maximum of three years in jail. As part of his plea deal, Campbell also agreed to testify against Price.

Campbell said he was guilty of conspiring with Kathy Nealy, longtime friend of Price, to win an it contract with Dallas County in 2004 for a company called Bearing Point. Campbell’s money to Price was funneled through Nealy so commissioners would award the contract to Bearing Point, which Campbell represented as consultant.

“Christian Campbell is going to be very important for the government because now they have somebody who they claim is on the inside who's going to give them a birds eye view into what this alleged conspiracy is about,” said lawyer Victor Vital, who isn’t involved in the case.

Karen Manning, 49, also pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of submitting a false tax return to the IRS. Manning owned an art gallery that sold African art for Price.

Manning faces a maximum of three years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine.

A sentencing date for Campbell and Manning hasn’t been set. The trial for Price is set to begin in January.

Prosecutors allege for more than a decade Price was at the top of a scheme involving Campbell, consultant Kathy Nealy and assistant Daphney Fain.

They allege that Price accepted cash and valuables in exchange for favorable votes and inside information at Dallas County Commissioner’s Court.