Politicians who've run into legal trouble

Metro Atlanta

Politicians who've run into legal trouble

Former Atlanta schools Superintendent Beverly Hall was the leader of a corrupt organization that used students’ test scores to earn bonuses if they rose, or intimidation and termination if they fell, according to a 65-count indictment returned March 29, 2013.

Hall pleaded not guilty in May. A May 2014 trial date has been set.

The racketeering trial of former DeKalb County school Superintendent Crawford Lewis is set for October, almost three and a half years after he was first charged. Lewis is accused of lying to investigators in an effort to cover up a corruption conspiracy involving the management of more than $80 million in taxpayer money, according to a May 2012 indictment.

“My life has been in limbo for three years and my family and I are ready to get this resolved,” Lewis said earlier this year.

Former Gwinnett County commissioner Shirley Lasseter resigned from the commission and pleaded guilty in 2012 to taking a $36,000 bribe from an undercover FBI agent in exchange for her support of a proposed development in her district on Boggs Road.

Shirley Lasseter's sentence was shortened from a minimum of 46 months to 33 months after she cooperated with authorities by secretly recording conversations and providing information that led directly to charges brought in September 2012 against Lawrenceville businessman Mark Gary. She is currently serving her time in prison.

Victor Hill is serving his second term as sheriff of Clayton County. He was elected overwhelmingly in November despite 32 pending felony charges, including racketeering, that accuse him of using the office to enrich himself during his first term. Hill’s law enforcement officer certification will remain in suspension until his criminal case is resolved.

No trial date has been set, so Hill can fill the administrative role of sheriff but cannot make arrests or serve warrants. He began his first, four-year term in 2005.

Former Gwinnett Commissioner Kevin Kenerly was indicted on a bribery charge in 2010. He was accused of taking $1 million from developer David Jenkins in 2007 to arrange for the county to buy land. That indictment was overturned in 2010. Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter got another indictment from a regular grand jury in August 2011.

Kenerly’s attorney, Pat McDonough, is seeking to quash the subsequent indictment, saying it was invalid because the first was still under appeal. He also argues that the statute of limitations on two of the charges —- including the bribery charge —- expired before the second indictment.

Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell leaves federal court with his wife Sharon after being sentenced to 30 months June 13, 2006.

Former Georgia School Superintendent Linda Schrenko was charged with embezzling and laundering more than $600,000 in federal education funds intended for deaf and honor students.

About half the money was illegally diverted to her 2002 Republican campaign for governor, and $9,300 was used for a face-lift, federal prosecutors said. In 2006, she was sentenced to eight years in prison. She was released on March 6, 2013. Her co-conspirator, Merle Temple Jr., also served time in prison.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis was indicted by a DeKalb grand jury June 18, 2013 on charges he illegally pressured contractors into giving him campaign contributions.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis' 15-count indictment includes 14 felonies. Among them, four counts of extortion, two counts of theft by taking and several conspiracy charges.

A quick shot of DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis inside his vehicle a few hours after being charged with 14 felonies Tuesday, June 18, 2013.

"I do want to make one statement emphatically to the good people of DeKalb County that I've done nothing wrong as I've said from the very beginning. Done nothing wrong and I would never, ever, ever do anything to violate the public trust," Burrell Ellis said outside his home on Tuesday night, June 18, 2013, after being indicted on 14 felony counts.

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Former Atlanta schools Superintendent Beverly Hall was the leader of a corrupt organization that used students’ test scores to earn bonuses if they rose, or intimidation and termination if they fell, according to a 65-count indictment returned March 29, 2013.

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