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Brooks resigns House seat before pleading guilty to tax fraud

Former Gov. Roy Barnes (left) speaks to his client, Rep. Tyrone Brooks, during a hearing in 2013. Brooks pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud on Thursday, and he pleaded no contest to five other counts of wire and mail fraud. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
Former Gov. Roy Barnes (left) speaks to his client, Rep. Tyrone Brooks, during a hearing in 2013. Brooks pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud on Thursday, and he pleaded no contest to five other counts of wire and mail fraud. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By Aaron Gould Sheinin
April 9, 2015

State Rep. Tyrone Brooks, D-Atlanta, resigned his seat in the Legislature on Thursday before pleading guilty to one count of tax fraud and no contest to five counts of wire and mail fraud.

A sentencing hearing has not been set yet.

Brooks faced 30 federal charges of wire, tax and mail fraud related to his work with a pair of charities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged that Brooks used contributions meant for those charities for his personal expenses. A trial for Brooks had been set for June.

The veteran lawmaker and civil rights leader pleaded not guilty in 2013 after he was indicted.

In a letter to Gov. Nathan Deal dated Thursday, Brooks said he was resigning his seat after 35 years in the General Assembly to transition back to full-time “civil human rights work.” He ended his letter, “Peace and justice, we shall overcome.”

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