Former Employee Pleads Guilty to Bribing DeKalb and Georgia World Congress Center Official

ATLANTA - Cecil K. Clark has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official while working for a janitorial services company from 2006-2010.

“Clark attempted to circumvent the process which provides companies an opportunity to bid fairly on government contracts, and in doing so his scheme exposed a corrupt public official who was willing to put his own interests above those of the taxpayers he served,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn.

J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “This plea clearly illustrates that the FBI will pursue not only those public officials engaged in corrupt activities but also those individuals who entice or otherwise conspire with those officials in their corrupt and criminal activities.  The FBI considers public corruption as a priority investigative program and asks that anyone with information regarding such matters to contact their nearest FBI field office.”

“When bidding on government contracts, there are strict guidelines and processes that must be followed.  Clark utilized a corrupt public official to obtain a lucrative contract without following the law and is now being held accountable,” said Vernon Keenan, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: Cecil Clark worked for a company, identified as “Company A,” that sought to do business with both DeKalb County and the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC).  Clark facilitated payments through his company to provide a public official a furnished luxury apartment in Atlanta, Georgia. The official who lived in the apartment was Patrick Jackson.

Jackson was simultaneously employed by both DeKalb County and the GWCC as the manager of janitorial services from approximately 2006-2012. Jackson did not disclose to either employer that the company Clark worked for, Company A, provided him with an apartment.  In exchange for the apartment, Jackson used his position as a public official to benefit the interests of Company A in its business dealings with DeKalb County and the GWCC.  Jackson previously pleaded guilty to accepting the bribes and is scheduled for sentencing on July 16, 2015 at 9:30 a.m.

Sentencing for Cecil K. Clark, 55, of Jonesboro, Georgia, is scheduled for July 31, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., before United States District Judge William S. Duffey Jr.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie L. Mickelson and Kamal Ghali are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.