Atlanta mayor's former son-in-law caught in California

<p>Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's former son-in-law, who skipped bail following his arrest here last year on cocaine trafficking charges, was arrested Thursday in California after seven months on the run, authorities said.</p><p>Tremayne Graham was hiding in California and had assumed an alias. Authorities said Graham was found with a driver's license under the name of Kevin J. Wilkins. Authorities reportedly found more than 200 pounds of cocaine, 100 pounds of marijuana and as much as $1.5 million in cash in his California residence.</p><p>Graham disappeared in November after he was temporarily released from house arrest to meet with his lawyer. He was arrested outside a sandwich shop in Van Nuys, the U.S. Marshals Service said.</p><p>Inspector James Ergas said "our investigation has focused in the California area for several months."</p><p>Graham was still married to Franklin's daughter, Kai, when he was arrested in Atlanta on cocaine trafficking charges in April 2004. At that time, Graham's bond was set at $300,000.</p><p>"The only statement we're putting out is that he is the mayor's former son-in-law," said Beverly Isom, a spokeswoman for Franklin, on Friday. Isom emphasized the word "former."</p><p>Authorities found Graham after they arrested another man on cocaine possession charges last Friday and learned he was associated with Graham, Ergas said.</p><p>Ergas said authorities narrowed their search to the Los Angeles area and nabbed Graham when he left the sandwich shop and was getting into a black 2005 Volvo.</p><p>Several people were also arrested at the house where Graham was staying.</p><p>Graham was one of 10 people charged in a ring that moved "significant" amounts of crack and powdered cocaine in South Carolina and elsewhere, according to federal authorities.</p><p>The arrest was good news for Free at Last, the Atlanta bonding company that put up $300,000 last year to ensure that Graham would appear in federal court to face charges. The company was ordered to forfeit the money and so far has paid a total of $20,000, according to vice president Jennifer Greene.</p><p>The bonding company offered a $10,000 reward and finally hired a bounty hunter from Miami in March who federal authorities say helped locate Graham. The company paid the bounty hunter $50,000, according to Leeza Cherniak, the company's attorney. "It was worth every dime," Cherniak said.</p><p>Graham faces at least 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges from the 2004 arrest.</p>