Two Atlanta-Area Court Officials Accused of Taking Bribes
Two Atlanta-area court officials have been charged with plotting to take bribes to help defendants obtain lenient sentences.
Keith L. Hughes, coordinator of DeKalb County’s Office of Pretrial Services, and county probation officer Nicole Dunn were arrested in an FBI sting operation, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. They were charged with conspiracy and extortion, according to the Associated Press.
An FBI affidavit says an accused drug trafficker wore a hidden microphone and camera in a meeting with Dunn after telling federal officials she had asked him to pay her $25,000 to help his case, the story says. Dunn also introduced the defendant to Hughes, who said he would falsely report that the defendant was cooperating in the investigation of other cases, according to the affidavit.
Dunn is accused of telling the defendant he faced a 15-year prison term if he didn’t pay her, according to the story. Authorities claim Dunn accepted $14,500 in three payments from the defendant. The money was provided by federal agents.
