The Associated Press
ATLANTA- A man pleaded guilty to accepting thousands of dollars in campaign contributions while running for county sheriff in exchange for contracts and overlooking crimes, including murder, if elected, officials said Wednesday.
Gary A. Beebe, 44, faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each of two federal counts of extortion through campaign contributions, prosecutors said. Sentencing was set for Sept. 22
Beebe was arrested a year ago, one week before a primary in which he was the only challenger to the incumbent sheriff of Forsyth County in northern Georgia.
Investigators said they videotaped three meetings in which Beebe accepted $15,000 from informants.
During one meeting, Beebe said he would grant permission to rob known drug dealers, according to an FBI affidavit. When the informant asked Beebe if he could “put a cap” in someone he felt had wronged him, Beebe responded that it would be an “unsolved murder,” an FBI agent said in the affidavit.
Beebe also allegedly offered favors such as contracts for towing services, as well as saying he would ignore other violent crimes committed by the contributors.