After being indicted on Feb. 18, Hart County District 1 Commissioner R.C. Oglesby now may face removal by the governor.
On Aug. 20, Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order appointing Attorney General Chris Carr, Commissioner Carvel Lewis of Georgetown-Quitman County and Commissioner Doug Duncan of Columbia County as a review commission to determine whether the indictment relates to and adversely affects the administration of the office of Oglesby such that the rights and interests of the public are adversely affected.
The committee was given 14 days to provide Kemp with a written report as to whether Oglesby should be suspended from office under Georgia law.
Oglesby was indicted on one count of violation of the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 10 counts of theft by shoplifting, one count of financial transaction card theft, and two counts of financial transaction card fraud.
The governor received a certified copy of Oglesby’s indictment on July 6, the executive order states.
The indictment alleges Oglesby used his influence as a member of the Hart County Commission to personally benefit from a county contract to cater food to the Hart County Jail, in violation of Georgia law.
“The food that was used to fulfill this contract was often purchased using illicitly appropriated Electronic Benefits Transfer cards, or EBT cards,” the 45-count indictment states. “These cards contain funds issued by the State of Georgia to certain individuals who qualify to receive assistance based upon income, and is intended to allow said beneficiaries with lower incomes to purchase food.”
While other defendants also were indicted, the indictment alleges other crimes were “all done under the watch and direction of Defendant R.C. Oglesby.”
“Defendant R.C. Oglesby used the EBT cards to purchase goods for Ludi’s Soul Food and, on multiple occasions, shoplifted food items from Walmart that were used at Ludi’s Soul Food,” the indictment states.
Oglesby, 65, at the time of his November 2019, arrest, is running as an independent candidate on the Nov. 3 ballot for the seat from which he stepped down after being indicted.
In that November race, Oglesby faces Republican Michael Bennett, Democrat David Cook and independent James Herman Fulghum.
Others arrested with Oglesby last year and indicted in February included:
- Steven Demitrius Oglesby, 41, charged with three counts of racketeering,
- Amy Oglesby, 38, charged with 10 counts of racketeering,
- Dasia Raquel Oglesby, 21, charged with one count of racketeering, and
- Yolanda Monique Oglesby, 28, charged with one count of racketeering.
Nelson O’Neal Blackwell, an employee of the Oglesbys, also was indicted with them in February.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2020/8/933561/governors-committee-will-determine-possible-removal-of-hart-county-commissioner