Developer sentenced in campaign funds investigation

ATLANTA - A Clayton County developer was sentenced Tuesday for concealing illegal campaign contributions he made to former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell. <br> <br> C.R. ``Ronnie&#39;&#39; Thornton&#39;s plea agreement with prosecutors netted him two years on probation, 120 hours of community service and a $10,000 fine -- far below the maximum penalties of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. <br> <br> U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story said Thornton avoided jail time because he has cooperated with federal authorities investigating corruption in Atlanta city government. Four other people with ties to Campbell also have been indicted in the federal probe. <br> <br> U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said that during the 1997 election, Thornton, his family members and his companies contributed their maximum amount to Campbell&#39;s campaign. Thornton and others then approached people they knew, asked them to contribute to the campaign and illegally reimbursed them. <br> <br> Campbell left office in January after eight years as mayor. <br> <br> Thornton says he was told the contributions -- which totaled $130,000 -- were necessary if his bid to provide fill dirt for a proposed fifth runway at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport was to be evaluated fairly.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/197620