Anthony Florence, Bribery of a Program Receiving Federal Funds, GA …

Anthony Florence, a contractor for the Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT), was convicted by a federal jury on February 28, 2018, on twenty-two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of bribery of a program receiving federal funds. The verdict, delivered after a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge William T. Moore, marks a major win in the DOJ’s ongoing crackdown on government graft in Georgia’s coastal transit operations.

According to trial evidence, Florence orchestrated a scheme to funnel over $100,000 in home renovations to Chadwick L. Reese, former Executive Director of CAT, and Joel T. Morris, former Director of Maintenance. In return, Reese awarded lucrative contracts to Florence’s company—despite the fact that little to no work was performed. Over nearly two years, CAT paid Florence’s shell operation more than $200,000 in taxpayer-funded contracts, all while the contractor treated CAT’s budget like a personal piggy bank.

Reese and Morris had already fallen from grace long before Florence’s trial. Both pleaded guilty to their roles in the corruption ring—Reese sentenced to 84 months in federal prison, Morris to 20 months. Their cooperation and prosecution laid bare the rot that had taken root inside CAT’s leadership, with Florence exploiting their greed to siphon public funds meant for transit improvements.

“The lesson for contractors doing business in South Georgia is simple: paying a public official to obtain ‘no show’ work is a good way to end up in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “This office will aggressively root out corruption at every level of government.” His words served as both warning and promise—no deal, no backroom handshake, and no political cover will protect those who plunder public trust.

David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office, reinforced that message: “Just because public officials are willing to violate the trust of the people they serve, doesn’t mean contractors can take advantage of their lack of integrity.” The FBI, which led the probe under Special Agent Joshua Hayes, vowed to keep public corruption cases at the top of its enforcement agenda.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Brian Tanner and J. Thomas Clarkson prosecuted Florence on behalf of the United States. The case was investigated by the FBI, whose dogged work peeled back layers of deception and greed. For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.

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