A former Atlanta Georgia mayor
was found guilty on the charges of tax evasion, and not guilty on charges of racketeering
and receiving bribes. These charges were brought about by accusations that the former mayor
accepted bribes for government contracts. The former mayor was also accused of spending the
money accepted from bribes on blackjack trips to Mississippi casino boats and romantic
weekends with the ladies.
The prosecutors claim that the former mayor was running a web of corruption from city
hall during his 2 term administration spanning from 1994 to 2002. They are also claiming
that his subordinates were ordered to collect thousands of dollars from contractors who
wanted to do business with the city. They are claiming that these payoffs totaled over
160,000 dollars in campaign donations, cash and home improvements.
The former mayor’s lawyer is claiming that it was in fact the subordinates that were
taking the money and ripping the city off of hundreds of thousands of dollars by using the
mayor’s name without his permission. The trial went on for 7 weeks and there were over 60
witnesses. The 52 year old former mayor could find himself with up to a 9 year prison
sentence.