Reed aide who collapsed in court has sentencing hearing rescheduled
The former city of Atlanta official who collapsed in federal court this week after learning she will spend nearly two years in prison for accepting bribes is scheduled to complete her sentencing later this month.
Katrina Taylor-Parks, who was deputy chief of staff to then-Mayor Kasim Reed, is slated to return to court Jan. 28. Taylor-Parks collapsed on Monday as U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones announced her sentence, which included 21 months in prison, three years of supervised release post-confinement and about $15,000 in restitution.
Her medical emergency halted the hearing, and Jones ordered the courtroom cleared as supporters of Taylor-Parks stood in stunned silence. Taylor-Parks was rushed to a local hospital and prosecutors said the hearing would be rescheduled when Taylor-Parks was well.
The hearing has to be continued because the formal sentencing process was not completed. Taylor-Parks will become the fifth person sentenced to prison in the City Hall corruption probe, which dates to at least 2015.
In pleading to conspiracy to commit bribery, Taylor-Parks admitted in August to accepting $4,000 in payments from a city vendor, which was awarded $100,000 in city business. In court on Monday, prosecutors said Taylor-Parks accepted about $15,000 in gifts and bribes, including a Louis Vuitton purse, a trip to Chicago and a cruise to Mexico.
About the Author
J. Scott Trubey is the senior editor over business, climate and environment coverage at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He previously served as a business reporter for the AJC covering banking, real estate and economic development. He joined the AJC in 2010.
