Former Fredericksburg finance director arrested on fraud charges

Former City of Fredericksburg finance director Tyler Hooper was arrested on a fraud charge.  According to Gillespie County Jail records, Hooper was arrested Thursday on one count of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information involving 50 or more items.  He was released Friday on a $100,000 bond.

In November 2025, Hooper was hired as Fredericksburg’s assistant finance director.  The city’s news release announcing his hiring said Hooper “continues a family-tradition of municipal services as his father – Donny has 29 years of city government experience and is currently the Assistant City Manager of Amarillo.”  Tyler Hooper resigned from the City of Fredericksburg on Sept. 9, eight days before his arrest.

Details of the allegation have not been released.  Under Texas law, fraudulent use or possession of identifying information involving 50 or more items is a first-degree felony.  If convicted, Hooper could face five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

According to Texas Penal Code 32.51, “identifying information” means information that alone or in conjunction with other information identifies a person, including a person’s:

~name and date of birth

~unique biometric data, including the person’s fingerprint, voice print, or retina or iris image

~unique electronic identification number, address, routing code, or financial institution account number

~telecommunication identifying information or access device

~social security number or other government-issued identification number

A person commits the offense if they, with the intent to harm or defraud another, obtains, possesses, transfers, or uses an item of:

~identifying information of another person without the other person’s consent or effective consent

~information concerning a deceased natural person, including a stillborn infant or fetus, that would be identifying information of that person were that person alive, if the item is obtained, possessed, transferred, or used without legal authorization

~identifying information of a child younger than 18 years of age