Grand jury indicts Georgia state senator

ATLANTA — A Fulton County Grand Jury has charged state Sen. Donald K. Balfour II with 16 counts of Making a False Certificate, one count of Theft by Taking (O.C.G.A. § 16-8-1) and one count of False Statement and Writing.

A certified copy of the indictment was received from Fulton County Superior Court this morning.

The charges stem from Balfour’s submission of Georgia General Assembly expense vouchers indicating that he was entitled to reimbursement for mileage and per diem expenses to which, it is alleged, he was not entitled.

Making a False Certificate is punishable by one to five years imprisonment and/or up to a $1000 fine, Theft by Taking is punishable by one to ten years imprisonment and False Statement and Writing is punishable by one to five years imprisonment and/or up to a $1000 fine.

Assistant Attorney General Laura Pfister and Senior Assistant Attorney General David McLaughlin are prosecuting the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. The case was investigated by Special Agent Wesley Horne and Forensic Auditor Laquintus Perry of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.