At least two arrests have been made by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in an ongoing investigation into corruption and financial misdeeds in Long County.
County Commissioner Robert Parker and Tony “PeeWee” Edward Fowler, a vendor for Long County, were booked into the Tattnall County Jail Thursday.
Fowler is owner of Fowler Services, a former deputy with the Long County Sheriff’s Office, and the son of Long County Tax Commissioner Becky Fowler. Fowler’s company was among the contractors to receive some $2.1 million in no-bid contracts under the leadership of County Commission Chairman Robert Parker.
Parker is charged with three counts of Theft by Taking, one count of Violation of Oath of Office, one count of Aggravated Assault, and a violation of the Georgia Racketeering Act (RICO).
Fowler is charged with two counts of Theft by Taking.
Long County officials made headlines last year after public records detailed a dire financial position for the county due to pricey shopping sprees on county credit cards, no-bid contracts, and a hemorrhaging of funds with next-to-no accounting. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation descended upon county offices last fall, seizing boxes of documents and conducting interviews.
In the interim, Parker was removed as county commission chairman, though he has remained a sitting commissioner for his district.
As far as Thursday’s criminal charges go, each will have to go before a Magistrate Judge for a first appearance. If the Magistrate Judge does not set a bond, a Superior Court Judge will have to set bond.
Parker and Fowler are being housed at the Tattnall County Jail where Long County has an inmate housing contract due to its own jail being incomplete. A ribbon cutting was held for the jail last summer, but it has been unable to officially open due to unfinished construction and the county’s financial position. Wayne County and McIntosh County also house Long County inmates.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
