Photo by Michael Starghill

Disgraced former Ward 5 councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. stole over $350,000 from the District, and it doesn’t look like the city will be getting that back anytime soon.

WTOP reports that Thomas has defaulted on a $50,000 payment he owed the District by the end of December. Under an agreement signed with D.C. Attorney General Irv Nathan last summer, Thomas would pay back just over $300,000 in $50,000 installments; he made his first payment at the time he signed the agreement. That second payment hasn’t been received, though, and Nathan is looking for ways to get Thomas to pay it:

The settlement stipulates that if Thomas defaults, his company — HLT Swingaway — has 10 days to make the payment. “The District may use all means available” to recover the money if HLT Swingaway is unable to satisfy the debt, including attaching a lien to any property owned by Thomas.

According to public records, Thomas’ home in Ward 5 is owned solely by his wife. Cooke says it cannot be attached.

As for what means the city will use to recover the money, Nathan declined to say. But the attorney general did indicate he’s loosing patience with the negotiations.

“We’re still discussing it,” Nathan said, “But I expect to take some action in the relatively near future with regard to this.”

Beyond what Thomas owes D.C., he’s still on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes on the money he stole. He’s to be sentenced in May for stealing the money, and face anywhere from three to four years in prison. The May 15 special election to fill the seat he abandoned will set the city back another $318,000.