Senoia promised a criminal referral to the GBI — months later, it still hasn't happened
The city council said in April it would send pro bono investigation findings to the GBI alleging crimes by three former officials. As of late July, the agency says no formal request has arrived.
Source: times-herald.com
In April, Senoia officials announced plans to refer findings from a pro bono investigation to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, alleging criminal activity by three former city leaders. Months later, no formal referral has been confirmed.
The three former officials named in coverage of the matter are the former City Manager, former Assistant City Manager — now a Coweta County Commissioner — and former Mayor. All three deny any wrongdoing.
Local reporting indicated that as of late July the GBI had held only a preliminary consultation meeting with city representatives and had not opened an investigation. No formal written referral had been submitted.
City officials told local outlets they planned to submit the formal request after receiving the transcript from a July civil immunity hearing — part of an active civil lawsuit the city has filed against the same three former officials. As of early August, that referral remained pending.
The civil lawsuit, which runs parallel to the announced-but-unfiled criminal referral, claims issues including unauthorized salary increases and other alleged financial and record-keeping irregularities, according to local reporting. The former officials deny wrongdoing.
The result is a months-long gap between a public announcement of criminal scrutiny and any formal action — a gap that has drawn attention from local outlets covering the dispute with notably different emphases on where the process actually stands.
For the former assistant city manager, the stakes extend beyond Senoia: he currently serves as a Coweta County Commissioner, meaning any formal GBI investigation — if and when one opens — would carry implications for an elected official still in office.
Why it matters — A public announcement of criminal charges against named local officials — one of whom currently holds elected county office — carries serious consequences for reputations and public trust, making the months-long gap between that announcement and any formal action directly relevant to Senoia and Coweta County residents.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- The pro bono investigation 'determined there was criminal activity' by the former officials.
- Specific April date and exact GBI referral announcement wording
- Exact names Harold Simmons, Jeff Fisher, and Dub Pearman
- GBI confirmation of no formal request as of late July 2026
- Reference to July civil immunity hearing transcript as trigger
- Specific dollar amount exceeding $176,000
Sources differ on Status of the criminal referral to the GBI: City council announced in April it would pursue a criminal referral to the GBI. (times-herald.com) vs As of late July 2026, no formal written request had been submitted and the GBI had not opened an investigation — only a preliminary consultation had occurred. (thecitizen.com)
Reported by times-herald.com, thecitizen.com
