Three businessmen who bribed a former DeKalb County and Georgia World Congress Center employee will serve sentences in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge William Duffey on Friday sentenced the three former executives of Rite Way Service Inc., an Alabama-based cleaning company, after a jury had convicted them on corruption charges.
The jury found them guilty in September for paying the employee, Patrick Jackson, who then used his positions to steer contracts to Rite Way.
They conspired to bribe Jackson with more than $100,000 for rent, utilities and a garage lease for a luxury Midtown apartment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Payments to Jackson also included $24,000 for apartment furniture and a $5,100 deposit for a hotel party.
"Public corruption, whether it's corrupt officials who take bribes or the boardroom executives who pay them, is absolutely unacceptable," said U.S. Attorney John Horn in a statement. "These sentences should provide a measure of justice to the businesses across the state of Georgia that do business honestly, ethically and lawfully."
Anthony Lepore, the 64-year-old former president of Rite Way, was sentenced to nine years in prison, a $115,000 fine and $165,415 in restitution.
John Rife, the company’s 66-year-old former regional vice president, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, a $100,000 fine and $168,715 in restitution.
Brian Domalik, the company's 49-year-old former division manager, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison, a $25,000 fine and $45,408 in restitution.
“This case makes it very clear to all that those engaged in enticing public officials via bribes, kickbacks or quid pro quos are subject to investigation and prosecution,” said David LeValley, special agent in charge for the FBI Atlanta Field Office, in a statement.
Two other people were previously sentenced for their roles in the scheme.
Jackson, the 55-year-old former DeKalb and Georgia World Congress Center employee, pleaded guilty in April 2015 and was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
Another former Rite Way employee, 55-year-old division manager Cecil Clark, pleaded guilty in May 2015 to conspiring to bribe Jackson and was sentenced to one year and five months in prison.
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