DECATUR — A judge has sentenced suspended DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis to serve 18 months behind bars.
The five-year sentence was handed down Wednesday morning. The judge ordered Ellis to spend 18 months in custody and serve the remainder of the five years on probation.
Prosecutors have said Ellis pressured vendors for campaign contributions.
Ellis on July 1 was found guilty of perjury and attempted theft by extortion. Ellis was acquitted of five other counts on charges that included bribery.
A jury of six men and six women had deliberated for more than four days before reaching the verdicts.
Ellis maintained his innocence, saying he made phon
