The former chief of staff for Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens was indicted last week on charges including making false statements and insurance fraud, according to the district attorney.
The following day, Braxton Tyree Cotton resigned from the sheriff’s office, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
Cotton was arrested in April 2023 following an investigation that began in March, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. On Thursday, a grand jury indicted Cotton on seven counts, including criminal attempt to commit insurance fraud, making a false statement, falsifying and concealing a fact, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and violation of oath of office, his indictment states.
Cotton allegedly told an officer his white Chevrolet Corvette had been struck in a hit-and-run crash on Macland Road, an arrest warrant states. But video footage and cellphone data told a different story, according to police.
“Accused then admitted to (the officer) that (his) vehicle had not been damaged in a hit-and-run, but instead that it had been struck ... by a female who said accused knew, and that this female was driving a Jeep without insurance at the time,” Cotton’s warrant states.
When the officer went to the woman’s home, her Jeep had white paint on the front bumper, consistent with the vehicle being in a crash, according to police. Cotton then allegedly filed an insurance claim stating his car had been involved in a hit-and-run, even though he knew who had hit him, the warrant states.
The officer “has identified a female and vehicle involved based on cellphone, license plate reading camera, and testimonial evidence that show that said accused knew who struck him at the time he filed said fraudulent insurance claim,” the warrant states.
Following the arrest, Owens placed Cotton on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
A U.S. Army veteran, Cotton previously was the director of reentry services for the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, according to a biography previously posted on the sheriff’s office website. He also worked as a state trooper.
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