Albany Banker Bribed: Jordan Gets 15 Months

ALBANY, GA – Joseph Wiley Jordan, 64, of Dougherty County, is headed to federal prison after being convicted of a brazen bribery scheme targeting a local bank officer. The sentencing, handed down January 30, 2013, by U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands, concludes a case that exposed a rotten core within the Middle District of Georgia’s financial system.

Jordan was found guilty by a jury on June 4, 2012, on four felony counts. The charges laid bare a deliberate effort to influence a bank officer through illicit payments. Specifically, Jordan was convicted of Count One, Conspiracy to Make Bribes or Kickbacks to a Bank Officer, and Counts Three, Four and Five, the substantive acts of those very bribes and kickbacks. The details of what Jordan offered in exchange for favorable treatment remain largely sealed, but sources suggest it involved loan applications and preferential treatment.

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Michael J. Moore, announced that Jordan received a fifteen (15) month sentence in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. Following his release, Jordan will be subject to two years of supervised release. Remarkably, the judge allowed Jordan to remain free on bond while he prepares to surrender to authorities – a decision that will undoubtedly raise eyebrows among those who believe justice delayed is justice denied.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service, highlighting the seriousness with which federal authorities view this type of financial corruption. Assistant United States Attorney Jim Crane expertly prosecuted the case, meticulously building a case that ultimately led to Jordan’s conviction. “This prosecution was successful because of the cooperation of our law enforcement partners and the hard work of the agents and the prosecutor assigned to the case,” Moore stated in a press release.

While the sentence may seem lenient to some, federal officials insist it sends a clear message: attempts to corrupt the financial system will not be tolerated. This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly small-town banking is vulnerable to the insidious reach of greed and deceit. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on any further developments.

Anyone with information related to this case, or other instances of financial wrongdoing, is encouraged to contact the United States Attorney’s Office. Public Affairs Specialist Sue McKinney can be reached at (478) 621-2601. Don’t expect a pat on the back for silence; this town needs cleaning up, and it starts with exposing the rot.