DA declines charges in Fort Valley city credit card investigation

The review examined records connected to four former city leaders and found the questioned purchases were related to city business.

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard says she will not pursue criminal charges following a Georgia Bureau of Investigation review of the City of Fort Valley’s use of city-issued credit cards.

According to Howard’s office, the GBI found no evidence of fraud, personal gain or purchases unrelated to city business.

The district attorney’s office did not say when the investigation began, who requested it or what specific purchases or allegations led to it. We’ve reached out to the GBI.

The DA’s office said the investigation focused on banking records connected to four former city leaders: Police Chief Dennis [DJ] Flores, City Administrator Gary Lee, Financial Director Eddie Mason and Mayor Jeffery Lundy.

The GBI found that the mayor and each City Council member had an annual training budget of $10,000. Most of the questioned purchases were made at hotels and restaurants, while others were made at Best Buy and auto parts stores.

According to the district attorney’s office, those purchases were connected to city spending for training, computer equipment, the fire department and the Public Safety Firearms Complex.

Howard confirmed her decision in a letter dated July 30 to Fort Valley Mayor Shakeena Reeves, the GBI and City Administrator LeMario Brown.

“While this investigation ultimately did not reveal any basis for criminal charges, it did spotlight the need for city officials to develop policies and procedures that comply with best practices in government spending, bookkeeping, and accounting,” Howard said. “Such policies, with a focus on transparency, stewardship, and personal accountability, would promote greater fiscal responsibility in the use of taxpayer dollars and help increase the public’s trust in leadership and finance.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.