El Paso businessman Billy Abraham released from Huntsville prison

William “Billy” Abraham has been released from a prison in Huntsville, Texas, according to an email sent to ABC-7 by Judith French, Abraham’s representative.

The prominent businessman was serving a two-year sentence for running over a man with his car in 2010. Earlier this year, Abraham reached a million dollar settlement with the family of the victim.

In a statement emailed to ABC-7, Mr. Abraham said, “It is with great anticipation that I return home to my family, friends and my hometown of El Paso, Texas. I am eager to join forces with the City of El Paso to work towards the greater good. Freedom is like money. You never think about it until you don’t have it. And when you don’t have it, you’re willing pay anything to get it.”

Abraham settled a lawsuit with the children of Jay Grady, the homeless man killed when Abraham ran him over on Paisano Drive in July of 2010.

Abraham was driving drunk and took off from the scene. Grady was also found to be intoxicated at the time of his death. This resulted in a jury convicting Abraham of “failure to render aid” instead of intoxicated manslaughter.

At the time, Abraham released the following statement: “Although money can never replace their father, this settlement has changed the children’s lives and their future trajectory by providing them new homes and a trust fund to ensure their higher education.”

ABC-7 obtained dash cam video of Abraham’s DWI test the night Grady was killed, which was used to convict him in March of 2015. Moments after failing a sobriety eye test, heel-to-toe walking test, which ended with a stumble, and failing a test while standing on one leg, ending with him losing his balance, Abraham was arrested.

After telling the officer he was not intoxicated, Abraham was told he was going to be given a mandatory blood alcohol test. He was later found to have a blood alcohol level of .20, two and a half time the legal limit.

“Where are you taking me?” Abraham can be head on the dash cam video asking the officer.

The officer replies: “Right now we’re taking you to UMC sir, for that mandatory blood draw I was explaining to you.”

Abraham then replies: “I’m not going to let you take my blood.”

The officer replies: “I know you already refused sir, but like I said, we’re taking it under the law mandatory now.”