Former Atlanta Mayor’s Aide Pleads Guilty To Bribery Charges
Federal prosecutors say Katrina Taylor-Parks conspired from 2011 to February 2014 to accept bribes from a city vendor. She was former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s deputy chief of staff.
Al Such / WABE
Two former City of Atlanta officials appeared in court on Wednesday morning. Both were subjects of a federal investigation into corruption at City Hall
Former Mayor Kasim Reed’s deputy chief of staff, Katrina Taylor Parks, pleaded guilty in to accepting $4,000 in bribes from an Atlanta city vendor.
She will be sentenced to up to five years, maximum, in prison in November.
“The indictment of Ms. Taylor Parks lends support to an alleged culture of pay to play politics at the highest level within the previous administration,” said Thomas Holloman, a special agent with the IRS.
In another courtroom, Reed’s former director of human services Mitzi Bickers maintained that she’s innocent of her separate bribery charges.
Her attorney, Drew Findling, was given three months to look through what he described as “millions” of documents in that case.
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said he hopes other officials who may be guilty will come forward.
“The question is not if, but when we’re coming. If you’re on the fence about coming in and cooperating with the government, I advise you to do so immediately,” Pak said.
He said his office has increased the number of attorneys dedicated to investigating possibly more corruption.
“Our investigative team and the agents are not going to stop until we find out the truth. And we’ll bring justice. Justice to the citizens of Atlanta. that they deserve and expect,” Pak said.
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