A former Columbus city councilman and a private contractor have been arrested on allegations of fraud.
State Auditor Shad White reports that special agents from his office took Joseph Mickens Jr. and Marcus Dawson into custody. Mickens, who represented Ward 2 while on the council, and Dawson are accused of rigging the bid for a flooring job to ensure the elected official’s flooring business would benefit from taxpayer dollars.
The two then allegedly convinced the city council that Dawson’s business was working on the flooring job instead. Dawson is said to have laundered the money he received from the city through his official bank accounts before wiring funds to Mickens.
Prosecutors said Dawson agreed to work with Mickens in exchange for future city-awarded HVAC contracts.
“Any elected official fleecing taxpayers for their own benefit should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” White said. “The hardworking men and women at the State Auditor’s Office will continue serving as a watchdog for taxpayers.”
Mickens faces up to 30 years in prison and $505,000 in fines if convicted. Dawson faces up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines if convicted.
