Former Duluth Developer Sentenced; Corruption Probe Continues

A former Duluth developer's federal bribery case is now over -- but a new case for someone else is still possible in Gwinnett County.

Mark Gary, 40, received a two-year federal prison sentence Tuesday (Aug. 27) in connection with a bribery scheme that involved former Gwinnett Commissioner Shirley Lasseter. And Gary's cooperation with prosecutors has implications for the ongoing Gwinnett corruption probe.

Gary confessed to paying a bribe in exchange for Lasseter's vote for a waste transfer station in which Gary had a personal stake. Gary also received three years of supervised release as part of his sentence.

Since being implicated, Gary has been cooperating with federal prosecutors. And a report says that another indictment may be coming.

"I do expect there to be at least one other individual charged as a result of Mark Gary’s cooperation,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Gilfillan told Judge Charles Pannell Jr. at Gary's sentencing, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In 2009, Gary had discussions of payments with Lasseter, a former Duluth mayor, and her son John Fanning, prosecutors said. Ultimately, Gary paid Fanning $30,000 in gambling chips to an out-of-state casino to secure Lasseter's vote on the waste transfer station.

Lasseter and Fanning both are serving federal prison sentences for bribery, although they were not charged in connection with Gary.

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