Lawyer: Gwinnett developer will plead guilty
Gwinnett County developer Mark Gary plans to plead guilty to bribery Monday in an ongoing federal corruption probe.
Federal prosecutors earlier this month charged Gary with bribery, saying he gave former County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter and her son $30,000 in casino chips in exchange for her 2009 vote for a solid waste transfer station Gary planned to develop.
Gary’s attorney, Paul Kish, confirmed Friday that Gary will plead guilty.
Gary is the fourth person charged in the corruption investigation. Lasseter already has pleaded guilty to an unrelated bribery charged and has been sentenced to 33 months in prison.
In May she admitted accepting $36,500 from an undercover FBI agent posting as a businessman. She accepted the money in exchange for her vote on a Boggs Road real estate development.
Lasseter’s son, John Fanning, and Hall County businessman Carl “Skip” Cain also pleaded guilty to their involvement in the bribery scheme. They also pleaded guilty to drug charges. U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell Jr. recently sentenced both men to 57 months in prison.
All four of those charged have been cooperating with investigators.
About the Author
David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
