Former Chatham County transit director strikes plea deal with prosecutors
Is it just me, or does it seem like Chatham is more corrupt than the average Georgia county?
From the Savannah Morning News’ Former Chatham Area Transit head Reese reaches plea agreement in kickback scheme:
Former Chatham Area Transit Authority Executive Director Chadwick Reese has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors to dispose of charges that he participated in a kickback scheme with a service provider who benefited from a rigged CAT contract.[…]
Details of the agreement were not available, but usually a change-of-plea hearing would require that a defendant admit guilt to one or some of the charges against him in return for a sentencing recommendation by prosecutors.[…]
The contract involved washing of CAT buses and a scheme uncovered by FBI agents in May 2014 and followed through with an informant identified in the indictment as “PW”, FBI Agent Josh Hayes testified.
Reese, one of the highest paid public employees in the Chatham County, was fired in December along with CAT’s indicted maintenance director. It remains to be seen how this case will influence CAT’s various plans to expand ridership and realign services.
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billdawers
I've been a freelance columnist for the Savannah Morning News since 2000. In 2011, I launched Savannah Unplugged as a place for news, analysis, and photos that weren't good fits for my newspaper columns. In fall 2013, I launched the music blog hissing lawns to fill a need for more music coverage in the Savannah area. I also teach English and journalism course at Armstrong State University, an under-appreciated gem here in Savannah.
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It’s not just you—there have been a number of stories of late. Note Chatham’s population is about 4.5 time larger then an average Georgia county. Removed Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, and DeKalb from the mix and Chatham has 7.5 times more population than a typical Georgia county.
I’ve always heard jokes about it being called “Cheatem County”
I guess it wasn’t all jokes.