Forsyth Councilmen Nabbed in $20K Bribery Scheme

MACON, GA – Two former City of Forsyth councilmen, James Edward Calloway and Desi Surtane Hansford, have confessed to shaking down a water and waste treatment company for a $20,000 bribe. The guilty pleas, entered in United States District Court in Macon, Georgia, bring an end – at least for now – to a case that reeks of small-town corruption and desperate financial maneuvering.

According to stipulations presented by the Department of Justice, Calloway, a 22-year veteran of the Forsyth City Council, and Hansford, who served for five years, both sat on the Combined Utilities Committee. This committee held sway over lucrative contracts for electric, water, sewer, and telecommunications services. It was on December 27, 2012, that Calloway allegedly approached the company with the demand: $20,000 in exchange for guaranteed votes on the water waste contract.

The company, acting responsibly, immediately went to the FBI. What followed was a sting operation worthy of a low-budget crime drama. On January 18, 2013, an FBI-provided $10,000 in cash changed hands at a truck stop off I-75 in Jackson, Georgia. Calloway, secretly recorded by the Feds, promised the company representative a return on their “investment” through future projects. He then split the cash with Hansford. A week later, another $10,000 was delivered, and Calloway was promptly arrested, confessing to the scheme and admitting to accepting Falcons playoff tickets as part of the deal.

Calloway, clearly looking to cut his losses, then cooperated with investigators, helping to deliver another $5,000 to Hansford – half of the second bribe payment. This led to Hansford’s arrest as well. The motive, it appears, wasn’t just greed. Court documents suggest Calloway was attempting to help Hansford stave off foreclosure on his home, adding a layer of personal desperation to the already ugly situation.

“The oath of public office is a sacred thing, and those who choose to seek public office should know that they must not betray the public’s trust,” thundered U.S. Attorney Michael Moore in a prepared statement. “Bribes have no place in government contracting, and my office will use our resources to ensure that a few instances of corruption are not allowed to erode the public’s ability to trust the representatives they elect.” A sentiment that rings hollow in a nation drowning in political malfeasance, but a statement nonetheless.

Both Calloway and Hansford now face a maximum sentence of up to ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for approximately sixty days from now. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sonja Profit. Inquiries can be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2602. Expect more details as this story develops. Grimy Times will be watching.