ATLANTA – Former Mayor Bill Campbell (search) was indicted on charges of racketeering, bribery and wire fraud following a five-year federal investigation into City Hall corruption, officials announced Monday.
Campbell, who was mayor from 1994 to 2002, was accused of taking cash payments in exchange for city contracts and accepting illegal campaign contributions.
The indictment unsealed Monday accused him of "a pattern and practice of misconduct and illegal acts."
Ten other people involved with the former mayor's administration have been convicted of corruption (search). Some were members of Campbell's staff; others had business contracts with the city.
Campbell has repeatedly denied the allegations of wrongdoing, saying the probe was a "witch hunt of unbelievable proportions."
Telephone messages left for U.S. Attorney Sally Yates and Steve Sadow, the former mayor's attorney, at their offices Monday were not immediately returned.
According to the indictment, Campbell took $50,000 cash in 1999 from a computer contractor, which was then awarded a contract worth more than $1 million for upgrading city computers. The contractor was not identified.
Earlier this month, Campbell and his attorney announced that a federal grand jury was hearing evidence against the former mayor. Sadow said then that the U.S. Attorney's Office had agreed to notify him when the Campbell was indicted so that his client could appear in court without being arrested.
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