For Immediate Release

May 22, 2001

DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO DEFRAUDING

CAPITAL METRO IN ’96 & ‘97

On Monday, Jim Vickers, Jr., pleaded guilty to a mail fraud scheme (Criminal No. A 01 Cr 113 SS) that victimized Capital Metro and Lexis-Nexis, a private company based in Ohio.

Vickers pleaded guilty in federal court to a one-count indictment in exchange for his cooperation with the on-going investigation.

According to the plea agreement, the defendant conspired with Irie Turner, the former Manager of Capital Metro’s Contracts and Procurement Department to fraudulently and illegally award contracts to a company owned by Vickers.

According to the plea agreement, this mail fraud scheme cost Lexis-Nexis $20,459. It also defrauded Capital Metro, and the citizens of this community, of $12,937.

According to court documents, the crimes occurred between July 1996 and July 1997. The current Capital Metro Board took charge of the agency in September 1997. The Manager of Capital Metro’s Contracts and Procurement Department was subsequently fired in October of 1997. Turner is not named as a defendant in the case against Mr. Vickers.

Capital Metro has cooperated fully with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office from the very beginning and will continue to do so. There is a presumption of innocence for anyone who may be the focus of the investigation, which is why the Board and the Agency has been unable to comment on the investigation.

It’s important for the public to understand that Capital Metro has not been accused of any wrongdoing nor have any current Board Members or employees.

Since the day this Board took over in September of 1997, the focus has been on ethics. It is the foundation for the day-to-day operation of this agency. The procurement system has been overhauled. These new procedures safeguard the purchase of products and services from contractors and ensure business with Capital Metro is competed fully and openly. These are safeguards designed to prevent this sort of crime against the taxpayers from ever happening again.

Outside audits have confirmed the process is working. Two years ago, a federal audit found not one single problem with our system. Last fall, a Federal Transit Administration Triennial Review gave this agency the equivalent of a perfect score.

Mr. Vickers’ guilty plea means we are closer to finally resolving this case. We share the community’s desire to see justice served and believe Monday’s action is proof the justice system works.