Prominent Atlanta construction executive faces charges in $1 million bribery scheme
By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor
The owner of E.R. Mitchell Construction Company of Atlanta has been arraigned on federal bribery and money laundering charges.
He is accused of participating in a plan to pay more than $1 million to get contracts from the City of Atlanta. Elvin Mitchell Jr., owner of E.R. Mitchell Construction Company, allegedly paid more than $1 million to an unidentified city official.
That official allegedly passed some of that money on to other officials in an effort to influence their contract award decisions in favor of Mitchell. Another unnamed individual in the construction industry allegedly took part in the plot. Mitchell is expected to plead guilty to the charges, according to published reports.
Mitchell's construction business, founded by his grandfather in 1960, has become one of the largest minority-owned contractors in Atlanta. The company has worked on high-profile projects including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.