Mark Gary Sentencing for Bribery Delayed

U.S. District Court Judge Charles A. Pannell Jr. has continued the sentencing hearing for Gwinnett developer Mark Gary until late February.

Gary pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge Oct. 1 in Judge Pannell’s courtroom and was scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 3. Gary’s sentencing is now scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in Courtroom 2307 of the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in Atlanta.

Federal prosecutors had requested a sentencing delay of up to 60 days to facilitate matters relating to Gary’s cooperation in an ongoing investigation of government corruption in Gwinnett County.

Gary admitted to bribing former Gwinnett County commissioner Shirley Lasseter to obtain commission approval in 2009 of a controversial $4-million waste transfer station in which he had a personal stake. Gary was implicated by Lasseter in the corruption investigation.