Hinds election official charged with misuse of taxpayer and grant money awarded 100K bond
A Hinds County election commissioner charged with multiple counts of fraud, embezzlement and bribery for allegedly misusing taxpayer and grant money has been awarded a $100,000 bond.
District 2 Commissioner Toni Johnson and Clinton businessman Cedric Cornelius were arrested Friday morning, according to the Mississippi State Auditor's Office. Their demand letters show they collectively owe about $250,000 to Hinds County taxpayers.
Read more: This Hinds County election commissioner faces numerous charges
The money is part of $1.9 million in grants a nonprofit, the Center for Tech and Civic Life, awarded to Hinds County. During the 2020 election, it gave over $350 million to election offices across the nation.
Johnson's indictment details the misuse of county money, alleging she bought and kept for herself two 85-inch televisions and personal protective equipment. The indictment also said Johnson used her elected position to award contracts that were never fulfilled.
A demand letter showed Johnson owes about $26,000 to taxpayers — the cost of the property the commission purchased, property and investigative costs and interest. She faces 26 counts, among them bribery, conspiracy and fraud.
One of those contracts is alleged to be Cornelius' company, Apogee Group II. Johnson's indictment said she accepted a $6,000 bribe, in return awarding more contracts to his company.
According to the auditor's office, Cornelius used Apogee Group II to work with Johnson to perform cleaning services, coronavirus testing and voting machine audits for the county. However, the auditor's office said he did not perform the services.
Cornelius' demand letter says he owes about $216,000 to taxpayers, according to the auditor's office. Court documents show Cornelius faces 24 counts, including charges of fraud, embezzlement and accepting bribes.
No bond has been set for Cornelius, according to court records.
Johnson's indictment also named Sudie Jones-Teague as a co-defendant. She is the registered agent of the salon New Beginnings Hair & Fashion.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 100K bond set for Hinds County election commissioner facing 26 counts
