A former Bibb County superintendent has pleaded guilty to tax evasion, including failing to report a $100,000 bribe.
That's according to a news release from Macon-based acting U.S. Attorney Pete Peterman.
The release says Romain Dallemand pleaded guilty Wednesday in Florida where he now lives.
Dallemand admitted submitting a false tax return to the IRS for 2012, which under-reported his income and over-reported his deductions.
The release says, "Mr. Dallemand failed to report an unauthorized $100,000 payment which was intended to influence Mr. Dallemand... while he served as Superintendent of the Bibb County School District."
Federal court records also show that a federal grand jury this week indicted a Bibb County economic development official, Cliffard Whitby, who's accused of bribing Dallemand.
Whitby is chairman of the Macon Bibb County Industrial Authority.
The indictment says Whitby paid Dallemand $100,000 to support a project he was involved in called the Macon Promise Neighborhood.
Whitby now faces federal charges of fraud, bribery and money laundering.
Harold Knowles, a Florida lawyer who allegedly funneled bribe money to Dallemand, was also indicted. So were two companies, Central Georgia Partnership for Individual and Community Development, which ran the Promise Neighborhood Project, and Postiventures Initiative.
Dallemand faces up to three years in federal prison. His sentencing has not been scheduled.
According to the Department of Justice, Whitby is charged with conspiracy to pay a bribe to an employee of an agency that receives federal funds; five counts of paying bribes; and money laundering.
Knowles is charged with charged with conspiracy to pay a bribe; paying a bribe, and offering to pay a bribe. He is also charged with money laundering.
The Central Georgia Partnership for Individual and Community Development and Positiventures are both also charged with money laundering.