Sailor drifts deeper in trouble
by Andy Phelan
andy@dekalbchamp.com
Sailor
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While he was helping the FBI in a fraud investigation after being busted for money laundering, former state Rep. Ron Sailor Jr. was secretly stealing from his church.
It means Sailor, 33, could now be facing 80 years in prison and a fine of up to $2.25 million.
Federal officials said in March -- when he pled guilty to laundering $375,000 in what he believed to be drug money -- that because he was cooperating with investigators he would likely receive a lighter sentence.
U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said that’s no longer on the table.
“Former Representative Sailor’s actions are both disturbing and reprehensible,” said Nahmias. “After his efforts to launder drug money were thwarted by the FBI and he agreed to assist the government in an unrelated investigation, Sailor made the decision to commit a serious new crime by concocting a scheme to defraud the church where he pastored and a bank. Sailor now faces a much longer prison sentence than originally anticipated.”
Sailor, once a member of the General Assembly representing district 93 that covers parts of south DeKalb and Rockdale counties, resigned his seat in March.
According to Justice Department documents, Sailor fraudulently borrowed $250,000 from Georgia Business Capital Bank by putting his own church – Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church on Campbellton Road in southwest Atlanta – as collateral.
After paying $32,000 in closing costs, Sailor received $217,500 from the loan and began paying personal expenses.
Sailor pleaded guilty June 17 to two new counts of wire fraud in conjunction with the church case. Sailor will be sentenced Sept. 16 before U.S. District Judge Jack T. Camp.
“The decision of Mr. Sailor to continue in engaging in criminal conduct and to victimize those that trusted him was an unfortunate one to say the least,” FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said.
“The plea today of Mr. Sailor reaffirms our priority to matters such as this that impact the public trust.”
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