Fed’s Continue to Prosecute Public Corruption

FORMER CONYERS PUBLIC HOUSING OFFICIALS INDICTED

October 22, 2008

Defendants Allegedly Used Money For Waterslide, Gifts, Vacations

Atlanta, GA - KRISTI KIRKUS WILSON, 44, and RONNIE PAUL WILSON, 43, of Conyers, Georgia, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for embezzling more than $130,000 from the Conyers Public Housing Authority. Their initial court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of today’s indictment, “The public must be able to trust that its government employees at all levels will be good stewards and spend their tax dollars wisely. This scheme clearly demonstrates how such trust can be abused.

We must be ever vigilant in guarding against such abuses, especially in these tough times where demand for public housing is at a premium. Every taxpayer dollar is precious and must be treated accordingly.”

Kenneth M. Donohue, Inspector General for the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General said, “HUD’s Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring taxpayers’ dollars are put to good use and HUD programs are free from waste, fraud and abuse. This joint effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and HUD’s Office of Inspector General has helped send a strong message that those who seek to unlawfully profit by defrauding programs within HUD will be vigorously prosecuted.”

According to United States Attorney Nahmias, the charges and other information presented in court: Between 2000 and 2007, KRISTI KIRKUS WILSON, who was the Executive Director, and RONNIE PAUL WILSON, who was the Lease Enforcement Officer for the Conyers, Georgia Public Housing Authority, allegedly embezzled more than $130,000 of housing authority funds that came through grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The WILSONs allegedly misused Conyers Housing Authority credit cards for vacation expenses, local meals, and personal items for their homes, including a barn, perimeter fencing, outdoor Christmas decorations, a waterslide, and Christmas gifts and parties for Housing Authority employees.

KRISTI KIRKUS WILSON also approved and paid bonuses for herself, and padded her and her husband’s salaries.

KRISTI KIRKUS WILSON and RONNIE PAUL WILSON are charged with conspiracy, embezzlement of federal program funds, and honest services mail fraud. The indictment includes a forfeiture count in which the United States seeks the forfeiture of ill-gotten proceeds from the alleged criminal scheme.

embers of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG).

Assistant United States Attorney David Leta is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-me-us), United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.

FORMER CLAYTON COUNTY POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED

TO ALMOST THREE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

FOR SENDING OBSCENE MATTER ON THE INTERNET

October 16, 2008

Officer Used County-Issued Computer While on Duty

Atlanta, GA - CASEY AUSTIN CARMICHAEL, 29, of Peachtree City, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr, on a charge of attempting to transfer obscene matter over the internet to a person under 16 years old.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of today’s sentencing, “As a police officer, this defendant abused the public’s trust and his police computer to do the exact opposite of what he was supposed to do. Instead of fighting crime and arresting those who would do harm to our children and our community, he became a criminal and a threat to children.”

CARMICHAEL was sentenced to 2 years, 9 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. CARMICHAEL pleaded guilty to the charge on August 14, 2008.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: In September 2007, CARMICHAEL, while on duty as a Patrolman with the Clayton County Police Department, used his Department-issued computer to transfer obscene materials to a person CARMICHAEL believed to be girl under 16 years of age. CARMICHAEL had contacted her in a “chat room” on the Internet, and had conversations with her relating to obscene materials over several days while on duty as a Patrolman.

The underage “girl” was actually an FBI Agent working undercover with the Safe Child Task Force. CARMICHAEL was dismissed from the Clayton County Police Department upon his indictment in this case.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and its Safe Child Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney David E. McClernan prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-me-us), United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.