Decatur Resident Sentenced in Corruption Scheme

Lakeysha Ellis of Decatur is among three people who have been sentenced to federal prison in their role in a corruption scheme involving illegal kickbacks and the Georgia National Guard.

According to U.S. Attorney John Horn, Raytosha Elliott of Atlanta worked for the Georgia Department of Defense and oversaw bids from engineering firms to develop construction projects, and secure purchase orders. Horn says Elliott awarded numerous contracts to companies created by her friends and associates, including Ellis and Angela Thicklin of Atlanta. In return, Ellis and Thicklin paid Elliott kickbacks for steering contracts to their companies.

“Elliott took advantage of her position with the Georgia National Guard, and awarded no-bid contracts to her friends in exchange for illegal kickbacks,” Horn said in a statement. “She and two of her friends stole over $150,000 in funds that were intended to maintain defense facilities and instead spent the money on themselves.”

Elliott was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release, while Ellis was sentenced to nine months in prison, three years of supervised release and three months of home confinement.

Thicklin was sentenced to one year, nine months in prison and three years of supervised release.