Councilmen Indicted for Bribery in Georgia

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that on March 12, 2013, a Federal Grand Jury in Macon, Georgia, indicted two City of Forsyth Councilmen on public corruption charges.

The indictment alleges that James Edward Calloway, age 60, and Desi Surtane Hansford, age 35, both of Forsyth, Georgia, were charged in the Three Count federal indictment with the following charges: Bribery Concerning a Governmental Program Receiving Federal Funds involving $5,0000.00 or more, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666 (a)(1)(B).

The alleged corruption occurred from December 27, 2012 to March 11, 2013 and involved a solicitation of $20,000.00 from the defendants to a service provider in exchange for influence regarding a city contract.

Mr. Calloway has been a Councilman for more than twenty years. Mr. Hansford has served for six years. The defendants face a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment, a $250,000.00 fine and a period of supervised release for each count.

An indictment is merely an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.

The case was initiated and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Macon Division. Assistant United States Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case for the Government. For additional information, please contact Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist at (478) 621-2602.

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