HOMERVILLE — Former State and Juvenile Court Judge Berrien Sutton pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday for his involvement in a fraud conspiracy. Federal charges against his wife have been dismissed.
Sutton pleaded guilty to one count of honest services fraud conspiracy. He is to be sentenced at a later time, according to the United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Georgia, in Macon.
The indictment papers list Sutton as a defendant on the charge, along with his wife, Lisa Sutton, former Alapaha Circuit Judge Brooks E. Blitch and private attorneys George Bessonette of Homerville and Hayward Collier of Nashville.
The indictment alleges that Blitch created an unneeded juvenile court judgeship, to which he appointed Berrien Sutton, as a financial favor. Berrien Sutton also allegedly sent fraudulent statements designed to increase his retirement benefits to the State Employees Retirement Board in Atlanta.
The document also alleges that Blitch created an unneeded position as court administrator for Lisa Sutton and diverted funds from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program to her as a financial favor. On July 1, 1997, Blitch also ordered all divorcing spouses with children in the Alapaha Circuit to attend “In the Best Interest of the Children” courses created by Lisa Sutton. Over three months, Lisa Sutton profited $98,603 from the program, which parents had to pay to take, according to the indictment.
The indictment alleges, in 2001, a conspiracy was designed to divert state and local monies for personal benefit that totaled more than $100,000.
Federal charges were dismissed Wednesday against Lisa Sutton, said Brent Savage, her attorney.
A call to Berrien Sutton’s attorney, Thomas A. Withers, was not returned Wednesday.
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