ATKINSON COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia mayor was arrested after he was accused of going to great lengths to get an inmate released from jail.
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The investigation began when the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office received complaints of 49-year-old Pearson Mayor Robert “Buster” Johnson participating in fraudulent activities.
Later, the DA’s office contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate the allegations.
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During the investigation, GBI agents uncovered a plan to have an inmate released from jail through fake documents, getting kickbacks from city contracts, theft of municipal land, and bribing city employees.
Johnson is charged with the following:
- Criminal attempt to commit hindering or apprehension or punishment of criminal
- Three counts of influencing witnesses
- Criminal solicitation to commit false statements and writings
- Criminal solicitation to commit false official certificates or writings by officers or employees of a state and political subdivision
- Two counts of false statements and writings
- Criminal attempt to commit theft by taking
- Conspiracy in restraint of free and open competition
- Four counts of conspiracy to defraud state and political subdivision
- Theft by deception
- Three counts of bribery
- Two counts of theft by taking
- Fraud, forgery, and theft in connection with registration of title to land
- Filing false documents
- Four counts of violation of oath of office by a public officer
He was booked in the Atkinson County Jail and is currently housed in Coffee County.
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