DA Smith: No decision made on Pendergrass

District Attorney Brad Smith said Monday that he has not reviewed all of the evidence from a group of whistleblowers alleging corruption by Pendergrass officials. Smith said he had made no decision on whether or not he will take any action to investigate the matter.

Nancy Val Preda, attorney for the three whistleblowers, said she took some of the evidence her clients had gathered to Smith in July, but no action was taken.

“They presented some stuff to me and then I read in the paper a bunch of stuff I had never seen,” Smith said. “I’ve got a call into Mrs. Val Preda, but right now I am working on a murder case in Barrow County.”

Among the allegations from the whistleblowers are that city administrator Rob Russell knowingly misused SPLOST money, used the city credit card for personal items, participated in ticket-fixing and misappropriated other city funds. They presented copies of city paperwork and tape recordings to back up their claims.