Don Buie indicted on several charges
A Dougherty County grand jury has indicted fired downtown manager and former ADICA CEO Don Buie on 12 felonies.
Buie's indictments include two counts of making a false statement, one count of theft of services, six counts of theft by taking, and three counts of conspiracy to defraud a public subdivision.
“I hope that we can instill confidence in the public that their government, their government services are clean, fair, and above board,” said Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards.
The grand jury also indicted Don Buie's wife Shannon Buie, Nicole Brown, and Dollar Square owner Tim Washington in connection with Don Buie's indictments.
Shannon Buie has one count of theft by receiving stolen property and one count conspiracy to defraud a public subdivision. The indictment shows those charges are connected to Buie receiving and cashing ADICA checks from her husband.
Tim Washington has one count of conspiracy to defraud a public subdivision, one count of making a false statement, and one count of theft of services. Those charges stem from Buie and Washington’s agreement for Washington to pay $1 a month rent instead of $700.
Nicole Brown, Buie’s ex-girlfriend and the woman who first accused Buie of corruption, has one count of theft by taking and one count of conspiracy to defraud a public subdivision. Brown signed an affidavit saying Buie received a kickback, then she took her story back, and is now charged for giving Buie the kickback money.
“We’re talking about public money and this thing is a situation we feel compelled as representatives of the public to bring forth and get it in from of a proper forum,” Edwards said.
If convicted on all charges and given the maximum penalty, Buie is facing decades in prison. Edwards wants to remind everyone, that Buie is still innocent until proven guilty.
“An indictment is merely a charge, but the state feels confident that there is probable cause to bring these indictments,” said Edwards.
Edwards says he and Chief Assistant District Attorney Chris Cohilas are also seeking indictments against ADICA board member LaJuana Woods in connection with a $50,000 grant that she received from Buie without board approval.
“This is an ongoing investigation and we’re going to dig until we get to the bottom of this thing,” Cohilas said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation tells FOX 31 News that Don Buie has been located in Baltimore, Maryland. GBI agents say Buie has agreed to come back to Albany this weekend and surrender to authorities.
Tim Washington and Nicole Brown turned themselves in Thursday. Shannon Buie, who GBI investigators say they have not located, must also turn herself in to Dougherty County authorities.
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