Four individuals have pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to defraud the state and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office announced. The scheme resulted in nearly $200,000 in losses to the State of Georgia through fraudulent contracts.
The court proceedings concluded Monday with Corey Alston, 48, pleading guilty to a RICO Act violation for his involvement in defrauding the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Superior Court Judge Courtney L. Johnson sentenced Alston to 20 years, with 3 years to be served in custody, and ordered $30,000 in restitution to the state. Quinton Tate, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 5 years of probation, a $5,000 fine, 250 hours of community service, and restrictions on future employment and participation in HUD-related programs, according to the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney.
The guilty pleas of Alston and Tate follow convictions of two other co-conspirators, Toyoa Andrews and Shawn Williams, both former employees of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Williams, who served as Director of DCA’s Housing Assistance Division from 2017 to 2019, conspired with her cousin and subordinate, Andrews, to direct funds to a cleaning company owned by Andrews, even though the building’s landlord was already providing the services.
The scheme also involved contracting fraud related to an online tool development project at DCA. After Alston's company was rejected as an authorized vendor, Tate's company submitted fraudulent invoices for a web service that was never provided. According to the investigation, DCA leadership, acting on information from Andrews and Williams, paid more than $120,000 for the services.
On December 18, 2025, prior to the recent pleas, Shawn Williams and Toyoa Andrews resolved their cases. Williams pleaded guilty to a RICO Act violation and was sentenced to 15 years of probation. Andrews entered a non-negotiated plea and was sentenced to 20 years, with custodial time suspended upon payment of $50,000 in restitution, additional fines, and completion of community service. Both are subject to restrictions on future employment. The case was prosecuted by the Anti-Corruption Unit under Senior Assistant District Attorney Aldous McCrory, in coordination with the Office of the Inspector General, which conducted the investigation.
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