More Bribery Allegations Levied Against DeKalb Board of Zoning Appeals

Sign up for the Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch newsletter!

---

The DeKalb County Zoning Board of Appeals is under continued fire from investigators who are looking into a case of bribery which allowed a business to continue to operate as a nightclub.

According to WSB-TV, board chairman Darryl Jennings, Sr. has received a subpoena from the federal government following allegations that he was involved in a bribery scheme which saw a local business owner pay off a zoning board member to sway a vote in the business’ favor. DeKalb County has been given until May 5 to surrender all documents pertaining to Jennings’ service on the board, but investigators are specifically interested in the case of LuLu Billiards.

In 2008, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners passed new zoning rules for late-night establishments and nightclubs. Ismail Sirdah, who owned LuLu Billiards in Tucker, learned that he had been grandfathered in only as a late-night establishment and could not operate as a nightclub or have a dance floor. LuLu Billiards had operated as a nightclub prior to the 2008 ruling and already possessed a dance floor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

According to the attorney’s office, LuLu Billiards continued to operate as a nightclub and use a dance floor until 2012. That year, LuLu Billiards was warned again and reminded that it was only legally allowed to operate as a late-night establishment. Sirdah appealed, claiming LuLu Billiards should have been grandfathered in as a nightclub in 2008.

Before the Zoning Board of Appeals heard Sirdah’s case, he approached board member Jeremy “Jerry” Clark and promised that if Clark voted to allow LuLu Billiards to operate as a nightclub, Sirdah would make it worth his while, the attorney’s office said.

In November of 2012, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved Sirdah’s request, with Clark voting in favor of the proposal. According to the attorney’s office, Sirdah duly paid Clark $2,000 and donated an additional $1,500 to a non profit interest connected to the board member.

Sirdah, 53, of Duluth pleaded guilty to one count of bribery on March 25 and will be sentenced on June 15, the attorney’s office said. Clark pleaded guilty to accepting Sirdah’s bribe on Feb. 19. He will receive his sentence on Thursday.

More Political News From Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch:

• Interim DeKalb CEO Under Investigation by FBI
• Elaine Boyer’s Chief of Staff Indicted for Theft, Making False Statements
• Gov. Deal to Sign Medical Cannabis Bill Into Law