PINEVIEW, Ga. — The mayor of Pineview in Wilcox County was arrested after allegedly stealing funds from the town of under 500, according to a media release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.
Brandon Holt, 34, was charged with 75 counts of theft by taking, the release said. They say Wilcox County Sheriff Steve Mauldin and District Attorney Brad Rigby asked the GBI to investigate on Oct. 20.
They say they were asked to investigate accusations that Holt had misappropriated funds from the City of Pineview.
Holt was arrested last Monday and he was booked into the Wilcox County jail, the release said. He was later released on bond.
The press release from the GBI does not detail how much money Holt is accused of stealing or how he allegedly took the money from the town.
The case will be handed over to the Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rigby for prosecution.
But this is not the first time Holt has landed in legal trouble.
Back in 2022, Holt was arrested in Bibb County on two counts of felony theft by deception charges along with nine counts of financial identity fraud.
According to an indictment in the Bibb Superior Court, Holt is accused of "fraudulently" using the account number of a Macon construction company Macon Asphalt and its owner, Willy Buckland, to send funds to his William & Fudge and Bridgecrest Financial accounts.
Both those companies provide loan services, according to their websites.
The indictment claims Holt used the account numbers for Macon Asphalt to allegedly steal $22,196 from the company.
According to the filings, Holt has pleaded not guilty to these charges and the case appears set to go to trial.
The investigation into Holt in Pineview is ongoing, the GBI said in the press release. If you have any information, you are asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Perry at 478-987-4545.
The GBI also accepts anonymous tips. You can call 1-800-587-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.