President Trump rejected clemency applications from two former Atlanta officials convicted in a sprawling federal corruption investigation, ensuring both will serve out their prison sentences for defrauding taxpayers of millions during their time in city government.

Lavish Spending and Million-Dollar Bribes

Mitzi Bickers, who served as Atlanta’s director of human services under former Mayor Kasim Reed, orchestrated a scheme that funneled approximately $17 million in city contracts to preferred vendors in exchange for more than $2.9 million in kickbacks. Federal prosecutors detailed how Bickers used taxpayer money to purchase a lakefront property, a luxury SUV, four watercraft, and fund extravagant travel expenses. A jury convicted her in 2022 on nine counts including money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bribery.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones described the evidence as showing Bickers engaged in a calculated, deliberate scheme to defraud Atlanta taxpayers over multiple years. He originally sentenced her to 14 years in federal prison, later reduced to 12 years in 2025. She must also repay nearly $3 million in restitution to Atlanta and serve three years of supervised release after incarceration.

City Financial Chief Abused Public Resources

Jimmie Beard managed Atlanta’s finances as chief financial officer from 2011 to 2018 under the same administration. Federal investigators discovered he charged personal luxury trips to city credit cards, submitted duplicate travel reimbursement claims, falsified tax returns, and exploited his position to acquire two custom-built machine guns through police department channels that civilians cannot normally access. Beard pleaded guilty in 2024 to diverting government funds and tax fraud as part of an agreement that dismissed six additional charges.

Judge Jones sentenced Beard to three years in prison plus three years of supervised release. He must pay $177,197 in restitution along with a $10,000 fine. The machine gun possession charge was among the counts dropped in his plea agreement.

Wider Investigation Continues

The Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney published denial notices for both officials on July 10 among hundreds of rejected clemency applications. Bickers and Beard represent two of ten individuals convicted in the federal corruption probe targeting the Reed administration. Former Mayor Reed himself has never faced criminal charges despite the investigation’s focus on his tenure. The convictions highlight ongoing concerns about accountability and transparency in municipal government operations, particularly regarding contractor relationships and financial oversight.