UPDATED: Attorney Arrested For Trying to Bribe Two Augusta Commissioners

***6:45 p.m. Update September 8***

Augusta, GA—Mayor Pro-Tem Alvin Mason and Commissioner Corey Johnson were in the middle of a bribery investigation, but not anymore.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office: “They went over there and what they heard was disturbing to them.”

Sheriff Ronnie Strength says attorney David Fry was arrested Tuesday for trying to bribe them. According to Sheriff Strength, Fry called a meeting with the two Commissioners at his house, on Friday, August 21st. The Sheriff says the two and fry do not have any prior relationship. They were just meeting with a constituent about an issue. During that meeting, Sheriff Strength says Fry promised them special privileges if they changed their vote on the TEE Center.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength: “Other Commissioners’ names were brought up, it was definitely looked into, and we don’t, at this point, see any other Commissioners was involved in this deal.”

The Sheriff says both commissioners notified him about the meeting a few days later.  Their attorney was with them. The Mayor and other commissioners were interviewed, but the Sheriff says none of those leaders are targets of this investigation. As for David Fry, the Sheriff says there is no evidence that he would have been able to produce what he promised. Strength says they are listening to recordings that were made during the meeting but the sheriff would not comment on how he got the recordings.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength: “Without a doubt I think everyone knows that who you are does not matter if a law has been violated.”

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Augusta, GA—According to a release from Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength, a criminal investigation has resulted in the arrest of Augusta attorney David Fry, 57, of Indian Cove Road. Fry has been charged with 2 counts of bribery.

Sheriff Strength says, “the investigation was initiated by the Sheriff’s Office after Fry met with Commissioners Alvin Mason and Corey Johnson and attempted to bribe them to change their vote on the TEE Center.

Both Commissioners, along with the attorney Freddie Sanders, contacted me and told what took place in their meeting with Fry at his residence on August 21.

Our office and the FBI have conducted interviews with Commissioners as wel as the Mayor, none of which are targets in this investigation.

The investigation is ongoing with other interviews to follow to determine if anyone else is involved.

I would like to thank Commissioners Alvin Mason and Corey Johnson for reporting this incident to our office and for cooperating with us in this investigation.“

WJBF News Channel 6’s Fraendy Clervaud will have more on this story in our evening newscasts.