Federal prosecutors have indicted Newton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Marcello Banes and local real estate broker Stephanie Lindsey on charges of money laundering.
According to the indictment, Banes and Lindsey allegedly conspired to launder money obtained through a fraudulent land deal.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia accuses them of using their positions for personal gain.
Read: FBI And U.S. Attorneys In North Carolina Warn Of New Jury Scam
Details of the Allegations:
- Banes, 48, is accused of leveraging his authority as Chairman to manipulate a land sale for unlawful financial benefit.
- Lindsey, 52, a recently elected commissioner, is alleged to have participated in the scheme and faces additional charges of tax fraud for allegedly filing false tax returns to conceal her gains.
- Both Banes and Lindsey are charged with conspiracy to launder money derived from wire fraud and honest services wire fraud.
- Banes faces additional charges of making false statements to FBI agents during a 2023 interview.
“By allegedly laundering proceeds obtained from a fraud conspiracy, these defendants violated the trust placed in them by their client, their constituents, and their fellow commissioners,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Public officials who undermine the public’s faith in our institutions by abusing their power for personal gain must be held accountable.”
“Banes and Lindsey undermined the public’s confidence in government and business in Georgia,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley. “This indictment is a stern warning that anyone who violates our laws will be brought to face justice.”
Read: Georgia Prosecutor Indicted For Theft And Fraud: A Shocking Abuse Of Public Trust
“This is a case of a public official breaking the public’s trust to enrich himself and a realtor who did not serve her client, but instead, assisted the public official in breaking the law,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Criminal Investigation special agents, our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s office are working together to hold those who break the law accountable.”
These charges against prominent figures in Newton County leadership have cast a shadow over local government. The Newton County Board of Commissioners is anticipated to convene an emergency meeting to address the situation, including Banes’s future as chairman.
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