The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested a Guyton City Councilman Friday following an inquiry into his use of the city credit card.
The GBI said in a news release that 26-year-old Theodore Hamby has been charged with one count of Theft by Taking and one count of Financial Transaction Card Fraud.
On Friday, February 21, 2025, the GBI was requested by the Guyton Police Department to assist with a theft investigation involving City Council member Theodore Hamby. The theft was related to Hamby’s position as a council member and his misuse of a city credit card.
Hamby was booked into the Effingham County Jail Friday and is awaiting a first appearance hearing before a magistrate judge. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Ogeechee Circuit District Attorneys Office for prosecution.
Mayor Andy Harville released a statement on Hamby’s arrest Friday afternoon:
The City of Guyton is aware of the recent arrest of Theodore Hamby, a member of the Guyton City Council. The City of Guyton holds its elected officials to the highest standards of integrity and accountability and trusts the judicial process will ascertain the facts in accordance with the appropriate procedures. In the meantime, the City of Guyton remains focused on serving its residents. Because this pertains to an ongoing investigation, the City of Guyton cannot provide further comment at this time.
Hamby’s term of office began in January 2024 and his tenure has been plagued with headlines. An ethics committee found Hamby violated the city’s ethics ordinance by soliciting money for an endorsement of another political candidate and he drew the ire of the public after he campaigned on opposing a retirement plan for council members before he voted to enact the same plan.
Hamby also used his position as a city council member to file for public service loan forgiveness from the federal government.
Under Georgia law, Hamby is permitted to keep his seat until a grand jury returns a true bill of indictment, at which point, the governor appoints a committee to determine whether or not he should be suspended from office, pending the outcome of the case.
Among the stories
- Ethics Complaint Filed Against Guyton City Councilman for Soliciting Money for Endorsement
- Guyton Councilman Tells Ethics Committee “If It Doesn’t Fit, You Must Acquit”
- Guyton Ethics Committee Says Hamby Guilty of Ordinance Violations, City Council Takes Action
- Harville Vetoes Retirement Plan for Guyton City Council
- Guyton City Councilman Cites Elected Office on Student Loan Forgiveness Application
- Citing ‘Bad Hombres,’ Guyton Councilman Wants PD to Join 287(g) Immigration Program
