The owner of a construction company has been charged with bribery and money laundering for allegedly paying more than $1 million to obtain city of Atlanta contracts.

Elvin R. Mitchell Jr., has been arraigned on charges of conspiratorial bribery and money laundering, federal prosecutors say. He is expected to plead guilty to the charge later this month.

The announcement today does not say who received the money from Mitchell. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is “is not a party to this suit. City has no comment,” Anne Torres, Director of Communications, Office of Mayor Kasim Reed, said in an email to Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Mitchell owns and operates E.R. Mitchell Co., Cascade Building System LLC., E.R. Mitchell Group Inc. and EC & WT Construction Company Inc., d/b/a E.R. Mitchell Construction Co.

According to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia John A. Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court, Mitchell and another person in the construction industry agreed to pay and did pay an individual to obtain construction-related contracts with the city of Atlanta. The individual was not identified by prosecutors today.

From approximately 2010 to August 2015, Mitchell paid over $1 million to an individual in exchange for City of Atlanta contracts, believing that some of the money would be paid to city officials who exercised influence over the contracting process.

BizJournals.com reports, 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.

“Mitchell brazenly sought to buy government contracts,” Horn said. “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.”

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

Editor’s Note:  The pictures are from Mayor Kasin Reed’s Facebook page, SEE link HERE.  The bribery allegedly occurred from approximately 2010 to August 2015; the pictures below are from 10/06/09, right before the alleged bribery occurred.

Text From Facebook,

Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company (10/06/09)
10 Photos · Updated 7 years ago

A few nice shots from a meet and greet with ER Mitchell Construction Company.

Below is a screen shot. 

Kasim-Reed-E.R.-Mitchell-Co.-Facebook

Facebook screenshot @ 9:34 pm CST on 01/17/2017.

Facebook Picture Archive.

Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09 Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09-a (1) Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09-a (2) Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09-b Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09-c Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09-d Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09-f Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09-g Meet and Greet ER Mitchell Construction Company-Facebook 10-06-09-h


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