Fulton County erosion control inspector Don Mitchell faces up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines after pleading guilty to soliciting and taking cash and other bribes from a contractor during the course of his job.

U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said July 9 that on three occasions in March and April Mitchell solicited and accepted bribes from a Marietta-based grading contractor that he had ticketed for alleged violations. The bribes included cash payments totaling $1,000 and a $100 gift card to Red Lobster. The payments were in exchange for promising to tell the judge at an upcoming hearing that the company had resolved the problems.

“The contractor made two illegal payments, the $100 gift card and one payment of $500 cash, before notifying the authorities. But after Mitchell solicited the contractor a third time, for more cash, the contractor called the FBI,” Nahmias said. “FBI agents then set up an undercover operation in which one of the contractor’s owners met with and paid Mitchell an additional $500 cash at a local restaurant, while wearing a concealed FBI audio recorder and while agents surveilled the meeting from the parking lot. The FBI also recorded a telephone call about the payoff between Mitchell and the contractor, with the contractor’s consent.”

The contractor has not been charged, Nahmias said.

Mitchell faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing in federal court is scheduled for Sept. 14.

login to post comments