Atlanta Power Player Mitzi Bickers Arraigned On New Charges

ATLANTA, GA-- One of the key figures in the Atlanta city hall bribery scandal is facing new charges out of Mississippi. Mitzi Bickers has been charged in an alleged Jackson, MS pay-to-play scheme. In April 2018, Bickers was charged with 11 other federal offenses, including conspiring to commit bribery, wire fraud, money-laundering, federal obstruction and tax fraud. The federal grand jury investigating this matter returned the superseding indictment on October 22, 2018.

“Bickers allegedly provided flights, limousines, hotel rooms, expensive food and entertainment to Jackson’s mayor and other city officials in an attempt to secure lucrative government contracts,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Her plans eventually unraveled though when she publically bragged that the mayor promised her the contracts and she just needed to ensure the paperwork looked good enough.”

According to prosecutors, in February 2014, the former mayor of Jackson died in office, and the city held a special election in the spring. In March and April 2014, Bickers assisted a candidate with his campaign for mayor, and eventually her candidate was elected mayor.

Beginning in March 2014, Bickers allegedly hosted parties and paid for food, airline flights, hotels, chauffeured car services, entertainment, fundraisers and campaign services for the mayor and other city officials in an effort to influence and reward these public officials, all in an effort to secure government contracts. Elvin R. Mitchell, Jr. helped to fund many of these activities. Mitchell was convicted in this case of conspiring to bribe Atlanta officials and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

Bickers then allegedly met with the mayor and other city officials to discuss city contracts. In May 2015, as she was preparing to submit a contract proposal, Bickers met with a city official. During this meeting, she allegedly bragged the mayor had promised her the city contract and that she simply needed to ensure that her paperwork looked good enough to pass muster. In June 2015, Bickers teamed with another company and ultimately submitted a proposal for work relating to Jackson’s Wastewater Consent Decree Program Management Services Contract.

Bickers, who was a high-ranking aide in Mayor Kasim Reed's administration, is also accused of conspiracy to commit bribery in Atlanta. In addition to the $2 million in bribes for giving city contracts to two contractors, Bickers is accused of money laundering and filing fake tax returns.

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