SNELLVILLE, Ga. -- A metro Atlanta mayor has been indicted on more than five dozen charges after he was accused of using campaign funds to pay for vacations and subscriptions to adult entertainment sites.
A Grand Jury formally charged Snellville Mayor Thomas Lewis Witts with multiple crimes, including making false statements, concealing facts, theft by conversion, false swearing and tax evasion.
According to documents from Gwinnett County District Attorney's office, Witts is accused of filing false tax returns from 2011 to 2015, then filing false amendments to them. The documents then allege Witts lied about it under oath, stating the Snellville mayor knew he owed taxes.
Beyond that, the indictment said Witts used campaign funds for several years for personal use. According to the documents, the mayor and former city councilman used those funds to purchase cruises on Royal Caribbean, flights on Spirit and Delta Airlines and subscriptions to adult websites.
Witts now faces a total of 66 charges. They breakdown as follows:
- 19 counts of making false statements and writings, concealment of facts and fraudulent documents in matters within jurisdiction of state or political subdivision
- 19 counts of false swearing
- 2 counts of violation of oath by public officer
- 4 counts of sale of property to political subdivision by officer or employee
- 17 counts of theft by conversion
- 5 counts of evasion of income tax, penalty, interest or other amount in excess of $3,000
