The Ethics Office recently settled three cases totaling over $16,000 in fines and restitution to be paid back to the City of Atlanta general fund. At its October 2014 meeting, the Atlanta Board of Ethics approved a settlement agreement between the Ethics Officer and former Department of Public Works employee, Pamela Lockett. As part of the agreement, Ms. Lockett acknowledged that she violated the city's ethical standards by using city property and equipment on city time to create and print fraudulent GED certificates, pay stubs and high school diplomas for the private advantage of herself and others. Ms. Lockett has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,500. At the same meeting, the Board also approved a settlement agreement between the Ethics Officer and current Public Works employee, Ronald Stephens. Per the terms of the agreement, Mr. Stephens acknowledged that he violated the City's ethical standards by referring a private plumber to a customer while responding to a service request as part of his official duties as a Water Collections Specialist. Mr. Stephens has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $150.

At the January 2015 meeting, the Board approved a settlement agreement between the Ethics Officer and Atlanta City Councilmember, Michael Julian Bond. As part of the agreement, Councilmember Bond acknowledged that he violated the City’s ethical standards when he received a travel advance to attend a conference and failed to pay back the city when he did not attend; requested and received complimentary admission to ticketed events on behalf of someone other than himself; used city funds to travel to attend his family reunion and to attend his grad school reunion; used city funds to pay for personal tutorial services and to sponsor an event for a private organization while using city property at no charge to the organization; and when he used city funds and labor for the production of DVDs and pins for his high school reunion. Mr. Bond has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $3,900 and restitution in the amount of $11,320.81.

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