Release:

Carr: Public Integrity and White Collar Crime Unit Charges Three Public Corruption Charges

APRIL 9, 2021

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr recently announced that the office’s Public Integrity and White Collar Crime Unit has charged * three former state employees with public corruption. A Fulton County grand jury returned the three indictments on April 8, 2021.

“We will not allow those charged with working for Georgian taxpayers to break the law for their own benefit,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “Our office will continue to work with our client agencies to ensure that our government employees do their jobs ethically and honestly. Those who do not will be held accountable. “

OCGA § 45-15-10 authorizes the Attorney General’s Office to prosecute anyone who violates a criminal law while dealing with or for the state. Both cases were investigated by the Georgian Inspector General’s Office.

A summary for State v. Shamira Brown

Shamira Brown, while a government employee, stole money orders posted at the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) and illegally used SRTA’s computer network in the course of her conduct.

SRTA operates toll transportation facilities in Georgia and manages toll collection on the Georgia Expressway System through the use of Peach Pass, the state’s fully electronic toll technology. People who use Express Lanes without a Peach Pass transponder receive violation notices for unpaid tolls and administrative charges.

Brown was employed by SRTA as a back office supervisor. One of Brown’s jobs was to process toll violation payments received from toll violators.

In August 2019, SRTA discovered that Brown had taken a money order sent to SRTA for payment of a toll violation and amended it to make it the payee herself. A subsequent investigation revealed that Brown had deposited at least twelve Money Orders totaling $ 315.39 intended to pay SRTA toll violations into his personal account. To cover up the thefts, Brown altered data in the SRTA computer network in an attempt to remove data related to toll violations. At no time were the accounts receivable of the Peach Pass affected.

Brown is charged with 11 counts of computer intrusion, two counts of theft per hold and two counts of fourth degree infringement. If found guilty, these crimes carry penalties ranging from one to fifteen years and / or fines not exceeding $ 100,000 depending on the charge.

A joint summary for State v. Maranda Powell and State v. Tiffany Whigham

Maranda Powell and Tiffany Whigham were Child Care Consultants (CSC) at the Department of Early Childhood Care and Learning (DECAL) in Georgia. Part of their job was to make unannounced visits to licensed child care programs (facilities). These visits aim to ensure that the facilities comply with all DECAL regulations, including those relating to the safety and well-being of children and staff members. The two forged several signatures on reports of site visits that never took place.

Powell is charged with four and Wingham is charged with two counts of misrepresentation and writing. If convicted, this crime is punishable by one to five years in prison, a fine not exceeding $ 1,000, or both.

* Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual against whom the indictment is sought. An accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the onus will be on the government at trial to prove the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.