ATLANTA — Georgia state Rep. Tyrone Brooks pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of filing a false tax document and no contest to five counts of mail and wire fraud.
The Atlanta Democrat, who resigned his seat earlier Thursday, entered his plea during a hearing in federal court.
Brooks, who was elected in 1981, was indicted in May 2013 on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and filing false tax returns. Prosecutors accused Brooks of misappropriating funds meant for charity and using the money to pay personal and family expenses.
The indictment alleged that Brooks solicited more than $1 million in contributions from the mid-1990s to 2012 from individuals and corporate donors that he said would be used to fight illiteracy in underserved communities and for other causes.
Brooks’ attorney, Roy Barnes, said the ex-lawmaker always maintained “there was never intent to deceive.”