Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed a wide array of documents associated with charge cards issued to DeKalb County commissioners and other county employees.
The subpoena indicates that the investigation of possible purchasing card misuse is advancing following reports by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News about commissioners’ personal expenses on their government debit cards.
A copy of the subpoena, dated June 5, was provided by the office of Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May following a request by Channel 2.
May previously said he had been contacted by federal agents about county purchasing card policies and usage.
The subpoena seeks purchasing card account statements, receipts, invoices, reimbursement records and signed user agreements.
The AJC has reported this year about commissioners’ spending of taxpayer money at Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Office Depot, the Apple online store and restaurants across the Atlanta area. Their spending records were obtained by the newspaper following open records requests.
Commissioner Elaine Boyer has reimbursed the county $16,800 for an array of purchases including airline tickets, rental cars, cellphone bills and a ski resort stay. Of that sum, about $8,000 was paid back only after the AJC began scrutinizing her spending.
Boyer has said she didn’t intend to do anything wrong, and she said she was being honest and transparent when she returned the funds.
Commissioner Larry Johnson used his purchasing card to give $12,000 to help fund programs at a county performing arts center, resulting in his name being placed on a plaque recognizing top-level donors. He also spent county money on Amazon, Brookstone and the Apple online store, records show.
Johnson said in a statement last month that all of his purchases were for a public purpose, and none was for personal gain.
Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton spent county money on hotels, rental cars, phone bills, airlines and various restaurants across the Atlanta area, according to her charge card statements.
Her attorney has said she only used her card for its intended purpose — paying for expenses associated with county business.
Ethics complaints are pending against Boyer, Johnson and Sutton. The DeKalb Ethics Board, which has the power under state law to remove elected officials from office, will review those complaints.
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