Former DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer’s husband, John, has pleaded guilty to stealing county money that was paid to a third party and then funneled back to the Boyers, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“John Boyer exploited his wife’s position as a DeKalb County Commissioner to steal thousands of dollars in county funds. The Boyers’ scheme put tax payer money in their pockets – and left the citizens of DeKalb County with the tab,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn.
The plea stems from Elaine Boyer’s conviction on similar charges in September, federal authorities said in a press release. Both she and her husband are to be sentenced May 6, the press release said.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court:
Each of the seven DeKalb commissioners is responsible for the management of their respective offices, which includes controlling the offices’ budget and hiring staff members, contractors, and consultants. In recent years, the operating budget for a commissioner’s office has been approximately $250,000 per year. The commissioners may use their budget only for county-related business.
In 2009, Elaine and John Boyer experienced financial difficulties, the release from federal authorities said, and John Boyer devised an unlawful kickback scheme to obtain money from DeKalb County. Elaine Boyer, as the Commissioner of District 1, hired a family friend as a political advisor, allegedly to assist her with government consulting.
From September 2009 to November 2011, false invoices were submitted to Elaine Boyer’s office for services supposedly rendered by the advisor, who was not named in the press release. Federal authorities said the county paid more than $80,000 for consulting services that were never performed.
John Boyer then instructed the advisor to deposit the money into a bank account used by Elaine and John Boyer and the advisor funneled about $60,000 into the account. The Boyers then used the money deposited into the account to pay personal living expenses.
My years as a Credit Manager saw many instances of interaction with white collar criminals. Charming, affable, pushy, and possessed with a totally unsmiling, unsleeping, ruthless focus on themselves, they all too often got light sentences for their wrongdoing. The Boyer crime family can set a new precedent here. Give them the max!! Could not have happened to a more deserving couple.–Tom Reilly
Elaine and John Boyer–DeKalb County’s answer to Bonnie and Clyde Barker!!