Grand Jury Report Implicates 12 DeKalb Employees, Calls for Abolishing CEO Form of Government
A highly-anticipated special grand jury report looking into alleged corruption in DeKalb County has been unsealed. It implicates suspended CEO Burrell Ellis, who is preparing for trial. The report also calls for further investigation into several past and present county officials, as well as abolishing DeKalb’s CEO form of government.The audio of the story as broadcast.
The report was actually completed in January. Since then, Ellis and his attorneys have fought to keep it from public view.
Now unsealed, the report shows what led to Ellis’ 15-count indictment. It details occasions in which Ellis allegedly strong-armed county vendors for campaign contributions. All three companies listed in the June indictment appear in the report and there are references to evidence in the form of tape recordings.
In addition, the report alleges 11 others have been involved in some form of bid-rigging and unethical conduct, including former CEO Vernon Jones, former public safety director William Miller, former Ellis chief of staff Jabari Simama, former Ellis campaign manager Kevin Ross, and several lower-level watershed management employees. It recommends only Ellis be charged with crimes, but it called for further investigation into the others.
The report also says DeKalb should abolish its unique, CEO form of government, saying it helps foster a culture of corruption.In “The 5:44 with Denis O'Hayer,” Denis spoke with WABE reporter Lisa George, who attended the press conference called by interim DeKalb CEO Lee May. They talk about those implicated and the jury's call to change the country's organizational structure.
In July, Gov. Nathan Deal suspended Ellis from office and appointed DeKalb commission chair Lee May to fill in as CEO.
Ellis and his attorneys insist he’s innocent of all charges.
*Find the complete text of the special grand jury report here (PDF).
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
