Wow. Massive corruption in Georgia. Who would have thunk it?

Illegal donor spread his money wide

By James Salzer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/02/08

Former Board of Regents Chairman Timothy Shelnut's pattern of illegal campaign contributions probably would have gone undetected if one of the recipients of his largess, Linda Schrenko, hadn't gotten into trouble, state officials say.

But she did, he 'fessed up with some prodding from the federal government, and his case led last month to the largest State Ethics Commission fine ever levied against an individual —- $40,000.

As part of an agreement he signed with federal prosecutors in May 2006, Shelnut disclosed illegal contributions to a host of state and local politicians, ranging from former Gov. Roy Barnes to Richmond County's sheriff.

He also agreed to testify in the Schrenko case, officials said, but he didn't have to because the former state school superintendent pleaded guilty to embezzlement and money laundering. About half of the $600,000 federal officials said Schrenko helped steal was funneled into her unsuccessful 2002 gubernatorial campaign. Schrenko began serving eight years in federal prison in 2006.

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In all, Shelnut acknowledged giving more than $25,000 in illegal contributions, funneled through family members, friends, employees and businesses. He also said he made illegal contributions to congressional candidates, but those are outside the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission. Those contributions were to the late U.S. Rep. Charles Norwood (R-Ga.) and unsuccessful Democratic congressional candidate Champ Walker of Augusta.

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Big, small candidates helped

Shelnut, founder of Four Seasons Financial Partners, is a prominent Augusta businessman who has given thousands to candidates big and small. At the federal level, recipients have included President Bush, former U.S. Sens. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) and Max Cleland (D-Ga.), the late U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell (R-Ga.) and current U.S. Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.). None of the contributions to those candidates or elected officials were part of the state investigation.

His donations to state and local politicians were another matter.

According to Shelnut's letter to the Ethics Commission, he contributed $6,000 to Schrenko, a Republican, when she ran for re-election as school superintendent in 1998. That was $1,000 more than the legal limit.

Two leading Democrats at the time, Barnes and state Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker, were among the biggest beneficiaries of Shelnut's contributions.

Walker, who is serving 10 years in federal prison after being convicted of tax evasion, mail fraud and conspiracy charges in an unrelated case, received more than $12,000 from Shelnut's companies when he ran for re-election in 2004.