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Georgia Officials Receive Prison Sentences in Charge-Fixing Scheme
Two former DeKalb County, Georgia officials have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a criminal charge-fixing scheme.
In 2008, an unidentified defendant arrested on a drug offense was told by DeKalb County pretrial officer Keith C. Hughes and probation officer Natalie Nicole Dunn that he could get the charges dropped in exchange for $25,000.
The defendant informed the FBI, which arranged a sting operation. At a meeting in Hughes’ office in December 2008, Hughes said Dunn would lie to the DeKalb County District Attorney about the defendant’s cooperation in other drug investigations in order to have the charges dismissed. Two installment payments of $5,000 were made.
Dunn and Hughes were indicted, pleaded guilty to bribery charges, and were both sentenced on November 24, 2009. Hughes received 35 months in federal prison, three years supervised release, a $2,500 fine and 200 hours of community service, while Dunn was sentenced to 26 months in prison, three years probation and 250 hours of community service. See: United States v. Dunn, U.S.D.C. (N.D. Ga.), Case No. 1:09-cr-00277-WSD and United States v. Hughes, U.S.D.C. (N.D. Ga.), Case No. 1:09-cr-00316-WSD.
“Using one’s position for personal gain negates any sense of fairness and justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones, with the FBI’s Atlanta office.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In 2008, an unidentified defendant arrested on a drug offense was told by DeKalb County pretrial officer Keith C. Hughes and probation officer Natalie Nicole Dunn that he could get the charges dropped in exchange for $25,000.
The defendant informed the FBI, which arranged a sting operation. At a meeting in Hughes’ office in December 2008, Hughes said Dunn would lie to the DeKalb County District Attorney about the defendant’s cooperation in other drug investigations in order to have the charges dismissed. Two installment payments of $5,000 were made.
Dunn and Hughes were indicted, pleaded guilty to bribery charges, and were both sentenced on November 24, 2009. Hughes received 35 months in federal prison, three years supervised release, a $2,500 fine and 200 hours of community service, while Dunn was sentenced to 26 months in prison, three years probation and 250 hours of community service. See: United States v. Dunn, U.S.D.C. (N.D. Ga.), Case No. 1:09-cr-00277-WSD and United States v. Hughes, U.S.D.C. (N.D. Ga.), Case No. 1:09-cr-00316-WSD.
“Using one’s position for personal gain negates any sense of fairness and justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones, with the FBI’s Atlanta office.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Related legal cases
United States v. Dunn
| Year | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Cite | U.S.D.C. (N.D. Ga.), Case No. 1:09-cr-00277-WSD |
| Level | District Court |
| Injunction Status | N/A |
United States v. Hughes
| Year | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Cite | U.S.D.C. (N.D. Ga.), Case No. 1:09-cr-00316-WSD |
| Level | District Court |
| Injunction Status | N/A |