The mayor of Pearsons — a town of just under 2,000 in Atkinson County — faces over 26 criminal charges, ranging from bribery, forgery and more.
PEARSON, Ga. — A south Georgia mayor is facing over 25 charges related to misusing his position of power, even allegedly working to free an inmate from jail using fraudulent documents, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.
Pearsons’ Mayor Robert “Buster” Johnson, 49, was arrested and is facing a laundry list of charges, including influencing witnesses, hindering apprehension of a criminal and bribery.
The GBI says that Johnson carried out multiple schemes to defraud the Pearsons, a city of just under 2,000 residents in Atkinson County and serves as the county seat.
The investigation started after the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office received complaints over Johnson’s alleged fraud, asking the GBI to step in and take over the investigation.
As they moved forward, the GBI found multiple areas of criminal wrongdoing. Johnson took part in a scheme “to have an incarcerated person released from jail through fraudulent documents,” the GBI said in a press release.
They also say Johnson obtained kickbacks from city contracts, stole land belonging to the city and bribed city employees.
However, the GBI doesn’t offer specific details on the grounds against Johnson, only the charges against him.
According to the GBI, Johnson is charged with:
- 4 counts of violation of oath of office by public officer
- 3 counts of influencing witness
- Theft by deception
- 3 counts of bribery
- Filing false documents
- Criminal attempt to commit hindering or apprehension or punishment of a criminal
- Criminal solicitation to commit false statements and writings
- Criminal solicitation to commit false official certificates or writings by offers or employees of a state and political subdivision
- 2 counts of false statements and writings
- Criminal attempt to commit theft by taking
- Conspiracy in restraint of free and open competition
- 4 counts of conspiracy to defraud state and political subdivision
- 2 counts of theft by taking
- Fraud, forgery and theft in connection with the registration of title to land
13WMAZ is working to learn more about the charges against Johnson.
Source link
