Developer Charged With Campaign Fund Abuses
A developer who has made millions off city contracts in Atlanta was charged with making illegal campaign contributions, apparently to Mayor Bill Campbell.
C.R. “Ronnie” Thornton, 57, of McDonough was expected to enter a plea this week. A guilty plea could signal his willingness to help federal authorities probing corruption in Atlanta city government.
Thornton raised thousands of dollars for Campbell’s reelection bid.
A criminal information charge accuses Thornton of shepherding money through various banks to avoid tax scrutiny and funneling $56,000 in illegal contributions to an unnamed political candidate.
The charge does not mention Campbell but says the illegal activity happened Nov. 14 and 15, 1997, in the heat of Campbell’s runoff campaign for a second term.
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