ATLANTA, GA – Lohrasb ‘Jeff’ Jafari, a City of Atlanta contractor, has been charged with 51 federal counts including conspiratorial bribery, bribery, tampering with a witness, tax evasion, money laundering, and structuring.
According to the indictment, Jafari allegedly paid thousands of dollars in bribe payments to Adam Smith, the then-Chief Procurement Officer of the City of Atlanta, between 2014 and 2017. In exchange for Jafari’s payments, Smith provided him with information and counsel regarding the City of Atlanta’s procurement processes, and approved and submitted the award of projects to PRAD Group, a company Jafari was associated with.
Jafari’s bribery scheme allowed him to obtain millions of dollars in city contracts, which he used to live a lavish lifestyle. He also failed to pay income taxes on the money he earned from these contracts, instead using corporate funds for personal expenses to avoid the assessment of income tax.
Between 2014 and 2016, Jafari withdrew large amounts of cash from corporate bank accounts and used corporate funds for personal expenses, resulting in him owing at least $1,150,000 to the IRS. He is also charged with numerous counts of money laundering for engaging in financial transactions with funds earned from City of Atlanta work he obtained while paying bribes to Adam Smith.
The indictment highlights the corrupt actions of Jafari, who used his position to enrich himself at the expense of the public. The case underscores the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions and the need for transparency in government contracting.
Jafari’s indictment is a result of an ongoing investigation by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Defendant: Lohrasb ‘Jeff’ Jafari, 68, of Alpharetta, Georgia. Charges: 51 federal counts including conspiratorial bribery, bribery, tampering with a witness, tax evasion, money laundering, and structuring. City and State: Atlanta, Georgia. Date: February 26, 2019. Outcome: Currently awaiting trial.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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