Trayon White agreed to 3% kickback in exchange for getting company grants from DC, court documents say

WASHINGTON — Court documents obtained by WUSA9 give more details surrounding the bribery investigation of DC Councilmember Trayon White.

White was arrested last month and is accused of using his position to pressure government agencies to renew lucrative public safety contracts in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and the promise of further kickbacks.

According to court documents, an unnamed company was contracted by the District of Columbia's Department of Human Services in 2018. The contract was later terminated after DCDHS determined that the majority of background check documents submitted by the company had been falsified.

“In other words, [unnamed company] was affirming it conducted background checks that it did not, in fact, do,” the court documents read.

The contract termination was not the end of the conflict, as the company then submitted a claim that the termination was improper and demanded the DC Government pay them more than $4 million. That number was later lowered to more than $1.5 million.

Officials allege that in 2020, a person only identified as a Confidential Source paid D.C. Councilmember Trayon White $20,000 to help resolve the dispute.

“Specifically, White agreed to use his public position to pressure high-ranking District of Columbia Government officials to resolve the dispute to [unnamed company’s] benefit,” the court documents read.

This would not be the last time White would allegedly accept money from the confidential source, officials claim.

The court documents use examples of meetings between White and a Confidential Source that reportedly took place inside a car outside White’s home.

The first meeting mentioned in the court documents happened on June 26, 2024, accompanied by photos of White. The D.C. Councilmember and the unidentified source allegedly discussed a contract with the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE).

According to the court documents, the Confidential Source handed White an envelope with $15,000 in cash inside.

"What you need me to do, man? I don't, I don't wanna feel like you gotta gimme something to get something. We better than that,” White allegedly said while putting the envelope of money into his jacket pocket.

The pair then allegedly discussed the specifics and made a plan to meet up again in another two weeks when the Confidential Source would pay him again.

The two reportedly met up again on July 17 in a car outside White’s home. According to court documents, the two came to an agreement that White would receive a 3% kickback of each grant awarded to the unnamed company for his efforts to pressure ONSE and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).

The court documents include a photo of a ledger, which details the breakdown of payment, and a transcript from part of the conversation between White and the unidentified individual:

Confidential Source: What I was thinking with you, is, if you are able to seal this up.

White: Yea.

Confidential Source: I will give you 141[,000]

White: (Looking at paper) Ok.

Confidential Source: Which is 3%

White: (Nods his head in the affirmative)

The court documents continue, alleging that the two continued to work through the details of the arrangement. At one point, the Confidential Source says if White needs anything, they can meet up again in an hour.

“Yeah,” White allegedly replied. “I’m hurting. I’ve been hurting for a minute.”

The Confidential Source then agreed to return in an hour to give White more money, court documents say.

Before leaving to get the cash, officials allege the two discussed the value of contracts for mental health services, with White estimating could be worth $15 to $20 million.

“That s*** aint going nowhere, bro… that s*** is a cash cow,” White is quoted as saying the court documents in regards to DYRS and ONSE contracts.

According to court documents, the Confidential Source returned an hour later and handed White another envelope, this time containing $5,000, and said that the money was for making sure White reached out to government employees.

“I am on top of all that… you know me, I’m already moving,” White is quoted as saying in the court documents.

White was arrested on Aug. 18. The Confidential Source accepted a plea agreement with the government on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, according to an unsealed affidavit.

Court documents say that ultimately, White agreed to receive approximately $156,000 and accepted $35,000 between four cash payments.