Benefit Account Set Up for Lasseter
Duluth friend Jerry Robb sets up account "to help Shirley" at Gwinnett Community Bank in Duluth.
A friend has set up an account at a Duluth bank to benefit former Gwinnett County commissioner Shirley Lasseter, who pleaded guilty Thursday to accepting bribes in federal court.
Jerry Robb, a friend of Lasseter, posted the notice of the benefit account on Facebook:
"An account at the Gwinnett Community Bank in Duluth has been set up to help Shirley. For anyone interested in donating money..Checks should be made out to Shirley's Fund, account #0040946. Thanks so much!!"
The bank is located on Buford Highway.
Lasseter apparently was in serious financial straits before her guilty plea. Her Duluth home was foreclosed on in 2009. Also, Robb was quoted in a recent media article as saying that Lasseter said her car ran out of gas because the gas gauge was not working properly and that she could not afford repairs.
In addition to facing up to 10 years in prison on the bribery charge, Lasseter faces a fine of up to $250,000.
State campaign disclosure records list her current address as Woodiron Drive in Duluth.
Lasseter has not commented publicly or online since the news broke Thursday about her guilty plea and resignation from the Gwinnett Commission; Suwanee and Duluth were in her district.
Gwinnett officials still have not announced whether they will appoint someone to fill out her term, which expires Dec. 31.
Lasseter's son John Fanning also pleaded guilty to the same bribery scheme, in which an undercover FBI officer posed as a South Florida real estate developer. Lasseter accepted bribes totaling $36,500 in 2011, federal authorities said.
Other support for Lasseter, former long-time mayor of Duluth, also is evident on her Facebook page.
"My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Even the best of us make mistakes. God will get you through this and you will be a better person (if that is possible) for it. You have done so many wonderful things for Duluth and Gwinnett County," posted Leigh Hudgins Landon.
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Courtney
10:13 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Yes, I want to contribute money to a convicted Felon. Who was helping her son set up a cocaine business here in Duluth....... No on second thought.
Jennifer
10:48 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Hmmm, I think that contributing any money to this Woman, is putting out the message that what she did was ok, I don't think so. She made her bed, now she has to lie in it..
Barbara Davis
3:38 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Wait a minute!! Robb (appropriate name) wants to set up a trust fund to pay for a legal defense for a crooked politician and her drug-dealing son--how stupid is our society getting!! What does this say about our value system in the country. And, they want to "reward" her, her son, and this guy Cain from Gainesville for their actions and potential drug deals. As far as I am concerned, she deserves whatever punishment they can give. Dealing drugs promotes terrorism. I don't live far from Boggs Road, and she did not care what danger she wanted to bestow on our community. And, what about patrons to the stores. Their safety was of no concern to her. We need to set our standards higher than this in Gwinnett County. She was wrong and a disappointment as a County commissioner and as a citizen of Gwinnett. No wonder they took the Gwinnett is Great sign down. And, what kind of Bank would accept money to defend a drug dealer. None that I would frequent. I want to move from Gwinnett County so badly that I can hardly stand it. But, I can't afford to sell my house at a loss. And, I could not get my property taxes lowered. If anyone wants to contribute to a fund for me to get out of Gwinnett County, I will gladly accept your donations.
Jay Byrd
4:03 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Very well said -- perhaps is their is to be a trust fund established for "Ol' Shirl" let it begin with the $36,500 of bribe money that she accepted. Where is this money?
Dave Emanuel
6:29 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
This is an absolutely great idea, but why stop with Lasseter? Let's set up a legal defense fund for everyone who commits a crime in Gwinnett County. We could call it the "Commit a Crime, Get a Check Fund", and advertise it in all the local media so ALL criminals could take advantage of it. Of course, it would have to be an equal opportunity fund or it might run afoul of state or federal law. Wait a minute-- that wouldn't be a problem because we could use the fund to pay for the legal defense of its own illegal operation.
On a more serious note, I understand the desire to help someone with problems, but why is Shirley Lasseter any different than the thousands of other criminals who lie, steal and cheat at the expense of others? Perhaps the proposed fund just a way to send a message that people in Gwinnett County are always willing to reward crooked Commissioners?
Brenda
8:38 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
What, no benefit for her son?
Brenda
8:40 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
So many people interviewed are "shocked". I wonder how many of them are burning out their shredders this week.
Mack
11:03 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Wonder how many of these shredders are located in City Hall in Duluth. You know that they probably will be taking a hard look at what goes on in Duluth during her time there as well. They may also be looking into the current administration in Duluth as well.
Bob Disney
9:19 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
I'll bet we could get Federal dollars for this "criminal trust fund" if we called it an Entitlement Program........
Heather_Jones
11:36 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Ok people, she is not a snake in the grass. She is a woman that made a bad choice when she fell on hard times. There are always two sides to a story.
Please remember all the positive things she has done in her leadership over the last twenty years.
Barbara Davis
1:36 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
There is no excuse whatsoever for bad behavior. There are people all over this county huriting financially. I cry every day over my financial situation, but I do not steal from taxpayers, deal in drugs, or put lives of Gwinnett County citizens in danger. Whatever happens to me, happens. Most people do their best, raise their children to be good citizens, and try their best to do the right thing no matter what the circumstances. She promoted and condoned her son's drug-dealing habits. Because she was not only a bad leader, she was also a bad parent, her son went down the wrong road with her. You are right--there are two sides of the story--a right side and a wrong side. She chose the wrong side. If you are going to lead, lead by example. Don't teach bad habits to your children, and then wonder how things went sour. Don't call yourself a leader when you take the wrong road. Even her own son said that he had been doing this for years. That means to me that she turned her back on her son for years, and now both she and her son, and this guy Cain are all corrupt. She is not sorry about what she did. She knew it was wrong. She is just very sorry that she got caught. What she did was a Federal crime. Do we really need citizens of Gwinnett County promoting and condoning bad behavior, setting up a trust fund to say it is OK to do what she did? And, if public defenders are good enough for everyone else, why not her? Things need to change in our County. This is awful.
Bob Disney
3:05 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Heather, I disagree. There were and always are other options available for someone in 'hard times" besides taking bribes and getting involved in drug trafficking (even in a 'casual' way). Lots of people experience hard times without making criminal choices. She mis-used the power of her elected position to advance her own needs. She appointed a family member to the zoning board of appeals to 'grease the wheels' for these "bad choices". Who knows how many other previous public decisions have been made with more than "the public interest" involved? Yes, she was well liked and even respected (which just makes it worse), but you would think that after 20 years of leadership, she could have found some good honest people to help her out instead of some pawn shop scheme? I have no sympathy for people who knowingly abused their authority and position of public trust. None. Zero tolerance. It's the violation of that trust that hurts more than any specific crime.
Jay Byrd
4:00 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Heather , please consider taking a class on how not to be so naive. How can there be two sides to the story when she has admitted her guilt? Again, not an accusation to be defended against, but a full admission of guilt. Ms. Davis and Mr. Disney were both dead on in their replies to you and I also admire them for their patience for such a poorly thought out opinion. I agree with you, however, on your snake in the grass comment. She is not. She is an arrogant, highly unintelligent snake in the grass.
HRPufnstuf
1:08 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
She needs the money to buy candy bars and chips in prison.
Christe J
4:04 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Maybe her "friends" will get that for her
Christe J
4:02 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
I smell a movie deal here.....I believe the title will be "Poor ole Shirley". Or better yet.
"Come On to Gwinnett & Brake a couple of Laws", who cares ?? Seems to be a growing trend among elected officials in Gwinnett.
Rhonda
3:36 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
Wow, what a bunch of judgemental people on here. The people who know and love Shirley will contribute to this. We only have to answer to our hearts. The people who are so quick to judge her without knowing the whole story will answer to , well you know.
Jana Crump-Aquino
4:03 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
I agree with everyone above, except Heather and Rhonda. Hopefully she gets what she deserves. Like anyone struggling, especially in these times, she had choices, and she made the wrong ones cause it was easier. And she took her son down with her. What a disgusting legacy. In my opinion, if you are defending her, what is in your past that you think the bad choices she made should be "excused??" She needs to pay for what she has done, and anyone involved with her and her schemes needs to pay too. That's what should happen to everyone, and she should be no different. Her actions affected all of us in this county. And if she did do anything good, how do we know she wasn't paid to?
Shirley is a Joke
1:01 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
They need to clean house with all top officials and commissioners in Gwinnett County. This may be the most corrupt place in Georgia. Shirley was always a two faced, self-serving person, and karma caught up with her. Hope her and her son spend a long time behind bars. She was truly a self-serving mayor and only had her pocket book in mind while "leading" Duluth as mayor, and "representing" the people as commissioner. She is a joke of a lady. Yes, I have first hand knowledge of all the above statements.