News Releases
FORMER FORSYTH SHERIFF CANDIDATE BEEBE SENTENCED ON FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES
October 27, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announce that GARY ALLEN BEEBE, 44, of Cumming, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Beverly Martin on two counts of extortion under color of official right (a violation of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951). According to Nahmias:
BEEBE was sentenced to 1 year, 9 months in federal prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. BEEBE was also fined $1,000.
BEEBE pleaded guilty to the charges on July 6, 2005. BEEBE was arrested in July 2004 for these crimes, during the election for Forsyth County Sheriff, in which he was the only candidate challenging the incumbent sheriff. BEEBE admitted that he illegally sought thousands of dollars of campaign contributions from would-be donors in return for a promise of exclusive government contracts and other favors if he were elected.
United States Attorney David E. Nahmias stated that: "Beebe offered to sell the very office he was seeking for a few thousand dollars in campaign contributions. Beebe promised, if elected, to reward certain donors with such financial favors as exclusive contracts for towing services, sole operation of the County's bonding company, and rights to a DUI school. Beebe also offered to abuse his position of trust and authority by leaving uninvestigated certain violent crimes his contributors revealed to him they might commit in his County while it was under his watch."
Nahmias added, "When he was first charged by the FBI in July of 2004, Beebe remained a candidate and proclaimed that, ‘I have no doubt that the truth will come out and I will be found innocent of the charges.' The truth has now come out. Beebe lost the election, pleaded guilty and is going to prison. This case should serve as a reminder to those already in public office and to anyone seeking public office that corruption will not be tolerated by the citizens of this District."
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert McBurney prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney or F. Gentry Shelnutt, Chief, Criminal Division, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the homepage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.