Construction Company Owner Charged with Paying Over $1 Million in Bribes for City of Atlanta Contracts

ATLANTA - Elvin R. Mitchell, Jr., has been arraigned on conspiratorial bribery and money laundering charges for paying over $1 million to obtain City of Atlanta contracts.

“Mitchell brazenly sought to buy government contracts,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Horn. “Contractors who bribe their way into public work undermine the integrity of the system and ultimately cost taxpayers more money to get important projects done.”

“This case clearly demonstrates that those individuals who attempt to illegally influence our public officials can easily find themselves the subject of a federal investigation and prosecution. Because of the vast harm caused by public corruption, the FBI continues to make it our number one priority within our criminal investigative program and we ask that the public promptly report any information regarding this type of activity to their nearest FBI field office,” said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office.

“The public contracting process should be one of integrity and fairness,” stated Special Agent in Charge Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot. “Those who elect to pay illegal bribes to further their business interests should know that they are not beyond the reach of the law.”

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: Elvin R. Mitchell, Jr. serves as the owner and operator of E.R. Mitchell Company, Cascade Building System, LLC., E.R. Mitchell Group, Inc. and EC & WT Construction Company, Inc., d/b/a E.R. Mitchell Construction Co.

In an effort to obtain construction-related contracts with the City of Atlanta, Mitchell and another person in the construction industry agreed to pay, and did pay an individual to obtain government contracts. From approximately 2010 to August 2015, Mitchell paid over $1,000,000 to an individual in exchange for City of Atlanta contracts, believing that some of the money would be paid to city official/s who exercised influence over the contracting process.

Mitchell also laundered the money received from the City of Atlanta by attempting to conceal the source of the money and by attempting to evade federal currency transaction reporting requirements by withdrawing cash in amounts under $10,000.

Elvin R. Mitchell, Jr., 63, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged by information and is expected to plead guilty to the charge later this month.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

First Assistant United States Attorney Kurt R. Erskine and Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey W. Davis 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.