Gwinnett County and its ‘culture of corruption’
We’ve heard the rumors and stories about Gwinnett County politics for years.
Apparently, so had the FBI.
Gwinnett County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter, 64 and a veteran of county politics, resigned her office and pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges that she took $36,500 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent posing as a developer.
A second former commissioner, Kevin Kenerly, is already facing trial on separate bribery charges. The former commission chair, Charles Bannister, had earlier resigned rather than face indictment on perjury charges related to a special grand-jury investigation.
And as the AJC reported yesterday:
“If the pleas were not enough to shake up the county government, federal prosecutors disclosed that more prosecutions involving land deals could be forthcoming. At Thursday’s hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Gilfillan said all three defendants are now talking to authorities and could receive reduced sentences based on the value of their cooperation in other investigations.”
If you want a real taste of how distorted Gwinnett County leadership has become — an incestuous, feuding mix of judges, politicians, consultants, lawyers, developers, law enforcement — go read this. It’s the text of a civil suit filed in federal court by Bannister against Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway charging false arrest, false imprisonment and retaliatory prosecution.
Here’s the short version:
In 2010, when Bannister was still serving as commission chair, Conway’s deputies arrested Bannister and charged him with drunken driving. What makes it all interesting is that:
A.) Bannister and Conway had been feuding politically;
B.) Typically, Conway’s department does not make DUI arrests;
C.) Although Conway’s deputies claimed that Bannister had failed a roadside sobriety test, once taken into custody the then-chairman blew a 0.00 on the breath test. Twice.
D.) Despite the 0.00 breath test, Conway’s deputies dragged a handcuffed and humiliated Bannister to the local hospital, where the blood test also reported a 0.00 blood alcohol level.
In the suit, Bannister alleges that Conway and his deputies “perpetrated the illegal arrest and detention of Bannister … in retaliation for Bannister’s persistent opposition to Conway’s political objectives.”
Bannister also claims in the suit that upon taking office in 2004, he was approached by Gwinnett County developer Wayne Mason, long influential in county politics. Mason allegedly “made it clear, explicitly, that if Bannister would use his position as commission chairman to Mason’s advantage, Bannister would be made wealthy. Bannister declined the overture.”
Bannister’s suit cites no evidence to support that particular claim. Overall, however, it paints a pretty sordid picture of what Gwinnett politics looks like to those on the inside. As Gwinnett District Attorney Danny Porter said yesterday, “We have to be rid of this culture of corruption that exists in Gwinnett County.”
– Jay Bookman
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256 comments Add your comment
Bruno
June 1st, 2012
1:12 pm
Your first post on this thread was whining about, But…but…but… Obamacare.
My first post focused on the common phenomenon on this blog of telling only half the story, which you backed up by complaining about the “But….but….Obama” folks.
Sorry your world is so limited, I’ll skip your complaints in the future.
Adam
June 1st, 2012
1:12 pm
Every media outlet is saying the jobs news is bad. Yep… REALLY in the tank for Obama. Yep, that LIBRUL media is at it again, bashing the President…. oh wait….
ty webb
June 1st, 2012
1:13 pm
joe hussein mama,
saw Iron Man, it was good. I haven’t seen the sequel yet. I don’t know why they rebooted Spider-Man.
Soothsayer
June 1st, 2012
1:17 pm
I imagine the president’s job (Republican or Democrat) as it relates to unemployment is like trying to bail a boat while multinational corporations are busy underwater drilling holes in the bottom (outsourcing).
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 1st, 2012
1:18 pm
Has anyone ever cooked goose on a grill?
Interesting proposition, so I went to Steven Raichlen’s Primal Grill website but to no avail. I did, however, found these
http://bbq.about.com/od/poultry/a/aa112799.htm
http://bbq.about.com/od/otherpoultryrecipes/r/bl91127a.htm
You’re either gonna hafta spatchc*ck the bird or rotisserie that bad boy.
It seem the biggest problem to deal with is the amount of fat that will be rendered.
They BOTH suck
June 1st, 2012
1:18 pm
ty
Have you seen the Avengers? I have not, but hear it is pretty damn good
Joe Hussein Mama
June 1st, 2012
1:18 pm
T. Webb — “saw Iron Man, it was good. I haven’t seen the sequel yet.”
LOTS more suits of armor in Iron Man 2. Colonel Rhodes gets his War Machine suit and there’s a major throw-down against the bad guy near the end of the movie. I think you will enjoy it.
There are already pics leaking off the set of Iron Man 3; the villains are The Mandarin and Iron Patriot. Ben Kingsley and James Badge Dale play the baddies.
“I don’t know why they rebooted Spider-Man.”
Tobey Maguire was getting a little old to be able to convincingly play a 25-year old and he hurt his back during Spider-Man 2. So they’ve gone with this young Englishman named James Garfield.
I missed Edward Norton as The Hulk in Avengers, but word has is that he is an absolute horror to work with. So he was kicked to the curb and Mark Ruffalo got the part. FWIW, I thought Ruffalo did a very good job.
As you can tell, I was a VORACIOUS reader of comics in my youth, and I am THRILLED to see my Silver Age favorites appearing on the big screen.
karoni
June 1st, 2012
1:20 pm
Never did like that Shirley—but she was an excellent maid!!
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
June 1st, 2012
1:20 pm
I apologize about the off-topic but really who cares about Gwinnett anyway.
I read about that guy who ate the face off a living person last night and it was so disturbing I could barely sleep.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 1st, 2012
1:21 pm
TBS — “Have you seen the Avengers? I have not, but hear it is pretty damn good”
My wife and I both really enjoyed it, and she has never been a comics reader. Loki is a total crapweasel who gets some nice comeuppance at the end. Plus, all the heroes get some good screen time and there are a few lingering shots of Scarlett Johansson’s rear end.
Be sure to stick around for both of the post-credits scenes. Yes, there are *two* this time.
JamVet
June 1st, 2012
1:22 pm
ty, you realize you are funding the evil, liberal, Democratic Hollywood machine, right?
(grin)
Paulo, sweeet.
Alison covers another stunningly sweet Todd song…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JayJYOxqjuY&feature=related
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 1st, 2012
1:23 pm
My first post focused on the common phenomenon on this blog of telling only half the story…
Really? Is that your “bottom line”?
The bottom line is that we’re on the brink of financial disaster in this country if we can’t bring spending in line with revenues. It’s difficult for me to support Romney’s plan to further slash taxes, and even more difficult to get behind Obama’s plan to keep spending more and more in a bid to buy votes.
They BOTH suck
June 1st, 2012
1:24 pm
Sooth
I agree 100%. It has been going on for years and is now really catching up on a macro level. Of course people that have been loosing the jobs the entire time have been feeling it, however it is really hitting home across the board.
This notion that unions, taxes and regs are the only reason is to a degree bs. It might be some of the reason, but how can you compete with the labor cost overseas. That goes for the union and non union jobs that have been outsourced.
Bro brought up a great point awhile back, as a country we have all seen this occurring before our very eyes. Yet we vote back in the same people and also have not geared up in terms of education to meet the changing demands of the economy we now play in.
retiredds
June 1st, 2012
1:25 pm
power corrupts, even in the burbs, where the “moral/family values” folks live and play.
They BOTH suck
June 1st, 2012
1:25 pm
JHM
Thanks for the review. Scarlett is smoking hot for sure
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 1st, 2012
1:28 pm
Kam, time for page 3! the rest of the story
CJ
June 1st, 2012
1:35 pm
Remember the 2008 private plane crash in Virginia that killed a Paulding County commissioner? The plane was owned by a Dallas, Georgia contractor and co-occupied by a Dallas, Georgia developer. Still, unless somebody is arrested, local media does not seem to think that it is important to highlight the incestuous relationships between developers and local officials throughout metro-Atlanta and beyond.
We live in a plutocracy.
jm
June 1st, 2012
1:36 pm
The ATL is a cesspool of corruption…..
Common Sense isn't very Common
June 1st, 2012
1:36 pm
Sooth and Both
Outsourcing (if onshore) isn’t quite as bad from a jobs standpoint. Sometimes there is economy for the company that keeps them competative. Also sometimes with the jobs the salaries are actually higher than the companies that outsourced the jobs.
The inherent problems with that is in the case of IT that the outsourcing companies are staffed with H1b visa holders (see TATA consulting in Boehner’s Ohio) and if the outsourcing uses offshore resources.
Outsourcing/offshoring means almost a total loss of those jobs to low wage countries.
Whenever I need to do business with any company/bank etc. I try to find out as much as I can about their outsourcing/offshoring practices.
Made in America to me means all goods and services are performed in the USA.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 1st, 2012
1:37 pm
Hiya Keep.
Been meaning to ask, how’s the recovery comin’ along.
ryan
June 1st, 2012
1:38 pm
Jay- I completly agree on Gwinnett, I grew up there and it is sad to see what has happened
However I have emailed you several times over the years pleading you to column about the property taxes in Fulton (where residents are treated like subjects) and the Atlanta water woes ( where I live now)
We need more of these columns- Thanks!!
P.S. we may disagree on national politics but when it comes to these local govt concerns we are all in this together
Hootinanny Yum Yum
June 1st, 2012
1:41 pm
Doesn’t Gwinnett County have a minority majority?
Ahmed
June 1st, 2012
1:42 pm
Well one good thing to come out of this is that the Gwinnett airport privatization proposal is now probably DOA, inasmuch as Shirley is admitting that her vote in support of it was up for sale to the highest bidder.
ty webb
June 1st, 2012
1:46 pm
They BOTH Suck,
No, haven’t seen the Avengers yet, thought I should see the other movies first(Thor, Iron Man 2, Captain America). I’ve only seen The Hulk and Iron Man.
Jamvet,
yeah, if I boycotted movies based on Hollywood’s liberal politics, I’d just stay home and watch John Wayne movies…on second thought.
They BOTH suck
June 1st, 2012
1:48 pm
Common
Understood. When I was referencing “outsourcing” it was to overseas locations, not within the US. I should have made that distinction
Joe Hussein Mama
June 1st, 2012
1:49 pm
T. Webb — “No, haven’t seen the Avengers yet, thought I should see the other movies first(Thor, Iron Man 2, Captain America). I’ve only seen The Hulk and Iron Man.”
See the remaining ones in order, if you can. That would be Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America, in that order. The post-credits scenes set things up and link everything together nicely.
Don’t miss Avengers on the big screen, though. It’s *quite* impressive and you want to see Loki get his medicine. Trust me on that.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 1st, 2012
1:49 pm
Kam, thanks for asking. Recovery is coming along fine but have had some unrelated complications lately that keep me away (as well as just the typical silliness from many of the cons and right wingnuts).
deegee
June 1st, 2012
1:50 pm
I loved the quote by Shirley’s son, Fanning, who took a plea yesterday as well. Talk about some good ole republican family values…
The undercover agent had previously asked Fanning whether he was willing to become involved in illegal money laundering. According to the complaint, Fanning was all in.
“I’m totally on board,” he said. “I don’t mind doing any of this and I’ve definitely done things under the table before my whole life. I mean, I got no problems doing stuff like this. That’s how we all get by,” the complaint said.
ty webb
June 1st, 2012
1:50 pm
joe hussein mama,
will do.
Hootinanny Yum Yum
June 1st, 2012
1:54 pm
If one were to look at corruption by metro-Atlanta city and county government and the subsequent erosion of economic growth, what would be the order of the dominoes “falling”? For the purpose of discussion, I’m going to separate Fulton into North and South Fulton.
How would you order them?
Listed in alphabetical order:
Cherokee County?
City of Atlanta?
Clayton County?
Cobb County?
Dekalb County?
Douglas County?
Fayette County?
Forsyth County?
North Fulton County?
Rockdale County?
South Fulton County?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 1st, 2012
1:55 pm
Keep
It could be worse. I just found out that an old acquaintance had the flesh eating bacteria thingie, and lost a hand because of it.
Common Sense isn't very Common
June 1st, 2012
1:55 pm
Both
NP but to some of our less informed compatriots here it may have started a few side issues.
But many probably don’t see Boehners Ohio as being a problem even if the state gov has a sweetheart deal with TATA
Matti
June 1st, 2012
1:58 pm
Corrupt local and state officials just LOVE cable TV and the Internet. WHY? Because ratings-hungry entertainers (and their corporate bosses) get everybody into a frenzy over national “issues,” morality rhetoric, and horse-race conjecture about who is going to win an election that’s months or even years away.
The benefit to corrupt state and local officials is that their constituents are so busy squabbling and spit-fighting with each other — about things totally beyond their control — that they (we) don’t take the time to bother to ask or pay attention to what our corrupt state and local officials are doing.
Nobody watching = steal all you want!
ragnar danneskjold
June 1st, 2012
1:59 pm
Fair and accurate essay. I would not magnify Bannister’s suit as “proof” – seems to me he is as bad as his “enemies” – but there is little doubt about the magnitude of the corruption. I have lived here only a dozen years, but have never had much confidence in the integrity of the politicians anywhere in Georgia. Funny, I have never particularly liked Danny Porter, but he is the only one who looks comparatively honest in the entire mix. As to Shirley, I have met her, and like her – have even served her Eucharist – and I confess that her criminality shocked me.
Soothsayer
June 1st, 2012
2:00 pm
Crude oil breaks below $83.00/barrel. Dow down 256 points.
Butch Cassidy
June 1st, 2012
2:03 pm
Soothsayer – “Crude oil breaks below $83.00/barrel. Dow down 256 points.”
Great, let me know when the economy is fully in the tank so I can join the GOP dancing in the streets to celebrate $2.50 a gallon for gas.
USMC
June 1st, 2012
2:04 pm
President Obama: “There Are Plenty of Steps We Can Take Now to Create Jobs”…
LOL! Are you kidding me?!?
This clown has been pivoting to jobs, jobs, jobs for 4 years now.
Zedd
June 1st, 2012
2:04 pm
As a resident of Gwinnett county for 39 of my 42 years, it sickens me to see more tales of corruption by our county commissioners. Including the chairmen, there are four other commissioners. We’ve had 3 go down to corruption charges in the last 3-4 years. Every piece of legislation and spending approved by these crooks needs to revisited or completely revoked! From the unconstitutional trash plan mandated to unincorporated citizens and slapped on peoples property taxes in the middle of the downturn economy, on top of a millage rate increase while artificially inflating property values, it all stinks to high heaven! You can smell the stench from Buford to Centerville!
skipper
June 1st, 2012
2:06 pm
Y’all mean politicians ain’t supposed to be rogues????? I thought there was a law they had to be or something…….
Dee
June 1st, 2012
2:10 pm
Why is this news? This has been happening for many, many years…the best is yet to come…p.s. incuding the Gwinnett County Public Schools…that’s going to really blow your minds…
USMC
June 1st, 2012
2:11 pm
President Obama Shuns Lech Walesa
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/301474/president-obama-shuns-lech-walesa-rory-cooper
This President is a complete disaster!
tick tock, tick tock, tick tock…
Romney by 3%
Doggone/GA
June 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
“Why is this news?”
This is an opinion column, not a news report
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 1st, 2012
2:13 pm
Great, let me know when the economy is fully in the tank so I can join the GOP dancing in the streets to celebrate $2.50 a gallon for gas.
It was only just a couple of months ago that they were celebrating the possibility of $5-6 a gallon gas come the Nov. election.
Matti
June 1st, 2012
2:14 pm
Zedd,
If you’re been there 39 of your 42 years, then perhaps it’s time that YOU run for local office. Government of the people, by the people and for the people does not work unless good people step up to do the right thing. If you can’t run yourself, for some reason, you CAN help recruit and support someone who will.
Stand up!
deegee
June 1st, 2012
2:15 pm
All I can say in the defense of Shirley and her crooked son is that they saved the taxpayers the expense of a trial. Shirley appointed her crooked son to the Gwinnett zoning board in February, 2011. In June of 2011she had her first contact with the FBI. She and her son thought they would make a side business out of bribing developers. They are the poster children for what ails the political process. I hope they do some jail time.
Matti
June 1st, 2012
2:16 pm
USMC,
Your feelings are hurt because the President shunned Lech Walesa? Does that mean you’re PRO-UNION now?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 1st, 2012
2:19 pm
Well of course no one would have faulted Obama if he embraced a labor leader who started a revolution.
Its all part of perspective as Kam indicated…. but in Obama’s case, whatever happens is “worse”.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 1st, 2012
2:19 pm
USMC — “President Obama Shuns Lech Walesa”
Having been a subscriber to National Review for many years, I suspect there’s more to the story than the writer lets on.
tick tock, tick tock, tick tock…Romney by 3%
Yeahrite.
http://www.electoral-vote.com
Zedd
June 1st, 2012
2:22 pm
Matti, thanks for thought….but I have a few skeletons of my own and I have worked the last 8 years as a CAD designer for a local commercial construction company operating and primarily building in Gwinnett. Somehow I don’t think that would pass the smell test!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 1st, 2012
2:22 pm
Sheets.
That Black Guy
June 1st, 2012
3:10 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
June 1st, 2012
12:20 pm
USMC — “Obama is a Buffoon! He is not very intelligent. Obama FINALLY apologizes for “Death Camp” gaffe:”
Had Mr. Bush said it, I suspect the Poles would still be waiting for their apology.
_______________________________________________________________
No, they would have got it.
Written in crayon.
I couldn’t resist.
That Black Guy
June 1st, 2012
3:27 pm
Steve – USA (I support “None Of The Above”)
June 1st, 2012
1:20 pm
I apologize about the off-topic but really who cares about Gwinnett anyway.
I read about that guy who ate the face off a living person last night and it was so disturbing I could barely sleep.
____________________________________________
Then you really need to stay away from the Md story about the guy who ate his roommates brain and heart.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 1st, 2012
3:48 pm
TBG — “No, they would have got it. Written in crayon.
Ho HO!!!!
Rob
June 1st, 2012
7:59 pm
Some one said:”I can remember when Gwinnett County was the best run county in the state… even if it was a good-ol-boys network.”
Well I can remember when in the 60’s Some Gwinnett cops tied another cop to a tree and shot him.
This place has ALWAYS stunk. I’m getting the hell out of here. It’s hopeless.
crankshaft
June 4th, 2012
3:31 pm
You should have heard the attempt at misdirection by little Dick Williams on this topic on “Georgia Gang” this past weekend.
Whistle Blower
June 6th, 2012
9:26 pm
I wished that all Judges, any other government personnel including the DA’s Office should all be investigated. I have personally seen Judges and attorneys hide evidence or ignor evidence based on who has money. If you have money you can get out of anything. I have also heard them say that it is ok for them to do whatever they want to do include lie in court. And of course this is done everyday. Judges and attorneys get away with alot and not even be held accountable. I know one Judge in Gwinnett County specifically, in one case in particular, allows perjury and evidence tampering in his court room. You have a better chance of getting hit by a car than getting justice in this Judge’s court room. I have seen this first hand. They also have the good ole boy system. If this particular Judge doesn’t want an investigation continued by DA’s office, the Judge will say do not prosecute. And Gwinnett Officers are scared of this Judge and don’t want this Judge mad at them to cause problems for them in the near future. Innocent people are found guilty every day and Danny Porter himself acknowledge that he knows this happens everyday. And per him if you have a good attorney that is willing to lie and cover up evidence you have a good attorney. Bar Association doesn’t do anything about it either.