Mayor Accused of Embezzling $65K Suspended by Gov. Kemp

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp took action on Tuesday, suspending a Central Georgia mayor who faces allegations of stealing nearly $65,000 from the city’s funds.

Brandon Holt, the mayor of Pineview in Wilcox County, was arrested in January following a GBI investigation. The probe revealed that Holt allegedly funnelled money from the city’s general account into his bank accounts through 75 transactions using the mobile payment app Cash App.

The alleged theft occurred between June 26 and Oct. 11, 2023. District Attorney Brad Rigby and Wilcox County Sheriff Steve Mauldin requested the GBI’s involvement on Oct. 20, shortly after the last Cash App transaction.

As a result of the investigation, Holt was charged with 75 counts of theft by taking, corresponding to each transaction. Subsequently, he was indicted by a grand jury on multiple felony counts of theft by taking in March.

In response to Holt’s indictment, a “Review Commission” was formed to assess its impact on the administration of the Office of the Mayor of Pineview and the public’s interests.

The commission determined that Holt’s indictment adversely affects public rights and interests, recommending his suspension from office.

Mayor Accused of Embezzling $65K Suspended by Gov. Kemp

Governor Kemp issued an executive order on Tuesday, suspending Holt from office immediately pending the final disposition of the case or until the expiration of his term.

Related Articles:

This isn’t Holt’s first encounter with legal trouble. In 2022, he was arrested in Bibb County on charges of felony theft by deception and financial identity fraud.

According to court documents, Holt allegedly used the account number of a construction company to steal funds and engage in fraudulent transactions dating back to 2018.