Initial Investigation & Arrest
On September 21st, 2021 the Georgia Bureau of Investigation released the following statement regarding their investigation and arrest of Richard Jason Veitch.
Newnan, GA (September 21, 2022) – Richard Jason Veitch, age 42, of Moreland, GA, has been arrested and charged with two counts of felony bribery. He was booked in the Coweta County Jail.
On August 12, 2020, the GBI was requested by the Coweta County District Attorney’s office to investigate anonymous cash payments received by Coweta County officials that were believed to come from Richard Jason Veitch, a local developer. It was discovered that two employees with the Coweta County Community Development each received, over the previous few years, numerous envelopes mailed to their homes that contained letters of thanks for their service and various amounts of cash totaling approximately $9,600.00. It was not until the two employees each received a cash-filled envelope that referenced Percy Springs, a development by Veitch, that they suspected Veitch as the source of the money. At that time, they made a report to authorities. The investigation led agents to believe that the handwriting on the envelopes and enclosed notes matched Veitch’s handwriting from known documents submitted to the Community Development office.
Indictments & Accusations
Initial Indictment – SUR2023000641
On December 12th, 2023 a Coweta County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment against Richard Jason Veitch on the following counts.
Count 1
The Grand Jury aforesaid, in the name and behalf of the Citizens of the State of Georgia, charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of Bribery (O.C.G.A. 16-10-2) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, between the 10th day of August, 2016, and the 31st day of August, 2022, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did unlawfully give United States currency to Ben Sewell, a person acting on behalf of Coweta County, a political subdivision of the State of Georgia, said currency being a benefit to which Ben Sewell was not entitled, with the purpose of influencing Ben Sewell in the performance of acts related to the functions of Ben Sewell’s employment, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Count 2
The Grand Jury aforesaid, in the name and behalf of the Citizens of the State of Georgia, charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of Bribery (O.C.G.A. 16-10-2) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, between the 10th day of August, 2016, and the 31st day of August, 2022, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did unlawfully give United States currency to Jonathan Amason, a person acting on behalf of Coweta County, a political subdivision of the State of Georgia, said currency being a benefit to which Jonathan Amason was not entitled, with the purpose of influencing Jonathan Amason in the performance of acts related to the functions of Jonathan Amason’s employment, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Superseding Indictment – SUR2024000326
On August 7th, 2024 a Coweta County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment against Richard Jason Veitch on the following counts.
Counts 1 and 2 from SUR2023000641 are re-indicted as Counts 3 and 4 in this case.
Count 1
The Grand Jury aforesaid, in the name and behalf of the Citizens of the State of Georgia, charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of Bribery (0.C.G.A. 16-10-2) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, between the 27th day of September, 2016, and the 30th day of August, 2022, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did unlawfully give to Ben Sewell, the Coweta County Review Manager until November of 2018 and the Coweta County Assistant Director of Community Development from November 2018 thereafter, and a person acting on behalf of Coweta County, a political subdivision of the State of Georgia, United States currency, a benefit to which he was not entitled, with the purpose of influencing Mr. Sewell in the perfo1111a11ce of any act related to the functions of his employment, in that said accused did on separate occasions give envelopes filled with cash to Mr. Sewell, to wit:
$750.00 received on or about September 27, 2016,
$850.00 received on or about December 15, 2016,
$550.00 received on or about January 9, 2017,
$300.00 received on or about March 14, 2018,
$1,000.00 received on or about January 7, 2019,
$1,200.00 received on or about April 16, 2019,
$400.00 received on or about September 26, 2019,
$350.00 received on or about August 8, 2020,
$1,500.00 received on or about April 14, 2022, and
$500.00 received on or about August 30, 2022,
said cash filled envelopes being given to Mr. Sewell in order to try to create and maintain a favorable relationship with Mr. Sewell in an attempt to influence Mr. Sewell to use his position to prioritize and give favorable and preferential treatment to the processing and handling of any of said accused’s ongoing and future land development applications and projects and their related land development issues which may arise, which are overseen by Coweta County Community Development and which Mr. Sewell could have influence over, said crimes being unknown to the State until August 8, 2020, and the identity of said accused as being the person committing these offenses being unknown to the State until August 8, 2020, and the Statute of Limitations being tolled due the Covid-19 related Judicial Emergency Order from March 14, 2020 to June 30, 2021, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Count 2
The Grand Jury aforesaid, in the name and behalf of the Citizens of the State of Georgia, charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of Bribery (O.C.G.A. 16-10-2) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, between the 1st day of April, 2018, and the 31st day of August, 2022, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did unlawfully give to Jonathan Amason, the Coweta County Director of Community Development, and a person acting on behalf of Coweta County, a political subdivision of the State of Georgia, United States currency, a benefit to which he was not entitled, with the purpose of influencing Mr. Amason in the perfon11ance of any act related to the functions of his en1ployment, in that said accused did on separate occasions give envelopes filled with cash to Mr. Amason, to wit:
$750.00 (the specific date being unknown),
$ I ,500.00 (the specific date being unknown),
$1,350.00 (the specific date being unknown),
$350.00 received on or about August 8, 2020,
$1,500.00 received on or about August 14, 2022, and
$500.00 received on or about August 31, 2022,
said cash filled envelopes being given to Mr. Amason in order to try to create and maintain a favorable relationship with Mr. Amason in an attempt to influence Mr. Amason to use his position to prioritize and give favorable and preferential treatment to the processing and handling of any of said accused’s ongoing and future land development applications and projects and their related land development issues which may arise, which are overseen by Coweta County Community Development and which Mr. Amason could have influence over, said crimes being unknown to the State until August 8, 2020, and the identity of said accused as being the person committing these offenses being unknown to the State until August 8, 2020, and the Statute of Limitations being tolled due the Covid-19 related Judicial Emergency Order from March 14, 2020 to June 30, 2021, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Count 3
The Grand Jury aforesaid, in the name and behalf of the Citizens of the State of Georgia, charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of Bribery (O.C.G.A. 16-10-2) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the .County of Coweta, on or about the 14th day of April, 2022, did unlawfully give to Ben Sewell, the Coweta County Assistant Director of Community Development, and a person acting on behalf of Coweta County, a political subdivision of the State of Georgia, United States currency, a benefit to which he was not entitled, with the purpose of influencing Mr. Sewell in the performance of any act related to the functions of his employment, in that said accused did give an envelope filled with $1500.00 cash to Mr. Sewell in an attempt to influence Mr. Sewell to help ensure that Mr. Sewell uses his position to help prioritize the inspection process pertaining to Lot 1 of Moreland Estates in order to help said accused receive prompt approval for a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for this residence in time for an upcoming closing date, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Count 4
The Grand Jury aforesaid, in the name and behalf of the Citizens of the State of Georgia, charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of Bribery (O.C.G.A. 16-10-2) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, on or about the 14th day of April, 2022, did unlawfully give to Jonathan Amason, the Coweta County Director of Community Development, and a person acting on behalf of Coweta County, a political subdivision of the State of Georgia, United States currency, a benefit to which he was not entitled, with the purpose of influencing Mr. Amason in the performance of any act related to the functions of his employment, in that said accused did give an envelope filled with $1500.00 cash to Mr. Amason in an attempt to influence Mr. Amason and to help ensure that Mr. Amason uses his position to help prioritize the inspection process pertaining to Lot I of Moreland Estates in order to help said accused receive prompt approval for a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for this residence in time for an upcoming closing date, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Count 5
The Grand Jury aforesaid, in the name and behalf of the Citizens of the State of Georgia, charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of Making a False Statement (O.C.G.A. 16-10-20) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, on or about the 11th day of February, 2021, did knowingly and willfully make a false statement and a false representation to GBI Special Agent Adam Thompson and to Special Agent James Richardson, in their investigation into potential Bribery of Coweta County employees, a matter within the jurisdiction of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, an agency of state government, in that said accused did falsely represent to these agents that he did not bring or send anything to anyone individually who worked for Coweta County, and said accused did falsely deny bringing or sending anything individually to “Ben”, a reference by the agent to Ben Sewell, when the truth is said accused had been sending envelopes containing United States’ currency to Coweta County employees Jonathan Amason and Ben Sewell, the Director and Assistant Director of Coweta County Community Development, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Accusation – SUR2025000290
On May 1st, 2025, prosecutors submitted an accusation against Richard Jason Veitch on the following counts.
Count 1
On behalf of the people of the State of Georgia, the undersigned prosecuting attorney for the county and state aforesaid, does hereby charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of FAILURE TO FILE DISCLOSURE REPORT (O.C.G.A. 45-1-6) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, did unlawfully fail to file a disclosure report on or about February 1, 2019, with the State Ethics Commission, to report monetary gifts, exceeding $250.00, given to Ben Sewell, the Coweta County Review Manager for gifts given to said person during the 2018 calendar year, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Count 2
On behalf of the people of the State of Georgia, the undersigned prosecuting attorney for the county and state aforesaid, does hereby charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of FAILURE TO FILE DISCLOSURE REPORT (O.C.G.A. 45-1-6) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, did unlawfully fail to file a disclosure report on or about February 1, 2021, with the State Ethics Commission, to report monetary gifts, exceeding $250.00, given to Jonathan Amason, the Coweta County Director of Community Development for gifts given to said person during the 2020 calendar year, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Count 3
On behalf of the people of the State of Georgia, the undersigned prosecuting attorney for the county and state aforesaid, does hereby charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of FAILURE TO FILE DISCLOSURE REPORT (O.C.G.A. 45-1-6) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, did unlawfully fail to file a disclosure report on or about February 1, 2023, with the State Ethics Commission, to report monetary gifts, exceeding $250.00, given to Ben Sewell, the Coweta County Assistant Director of Community Development for gifts given to said person during the 2022 calendar year, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Count 4
On behalf of the people of the State of Georgia, the undersigned prosecuting attorney for the county and state aforesaid, does hereby charge and accuse RICHARD JASON VEITCH with the offense of FAILURE TO FILE DISCLOSURE REPORT (O.C.G.A. 45-1-6) in that the said accused, in the State of Georgia and in the County of Coweta, did unlawfully fail to file a disclosure report on or about February 1, 2023, with the State Ethics Commission, to report monetary gifts, exceeding $250.00, given to Jonathan Amason, the Coweta County Director of Community Development for gifts given to said person during the 2022 calendar year, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
Negotiated Plea and Sentencing
On May 7th, 2025, Richard Jason Veitch entered an Alford Plea in case SUR2024000326. The disposition of all counts in all cases can be seen below. Please see section below for explanation of legal terms displayed in this section.
Disposition
Case | Count | Charge | Disposition |
2024R326 | 1 | Bribery | Nol Pros |
2 | Bribery | Nol Pros | |
3 | Bribery | Nol Pros | |
4 | Bribery | Nol Pros | |
5 | Making False Statement | Guilty - Alfrod | |
2025R290 | 1 | Failure to File Disclosure Report | Consolidated with 2024R326 Count 1 |
2 | Failure to File Disclosure Report | Consolidated with 2024R326 Count 2 | |
3 | Failure to File Disclosure Report | Consolidated with 2024R326 Count 3 | |
4 | Failure to File Disclosure Report | Consolidated with 2024R326 Count 4 | |
2023R641 | 1 | Bribery | Re-indcited as 2024R326 Count 3 |
2 | Bribery | Re-indcited as 2024R326 Count 4 |
Sentencing
Veitch was sentenced as a First Offender under O.C.G.A § 42-8-60.
- 3 years to be served on probation.
- Special Conditions, see list below.
- $5,000 fine.
- $100 court fine.
- To pay probation supervision fee.
As part of Veitch’s probation he must adhere to the following conditions:
- Defendant shall report to the Probation Office.
- Defendant is sentenced under the provisions of the Probation Management Act Sentencing Options System.
- Fourth Amendment Waiver. The Defendant shall submit to a search of person, residence, papers, vehicle, and/or effects at any time of day or night without a search warrant, whenever requested to do so by a Probation Officer or other law enforcement officer upon reasonable cause to believe that the Defendant is in violation of probation or otherwise acting in violation of the law, and the Defendant shall specifically consent to the use of anything seized as evidence in any judicial proceedings or trial.
- Specimen; admissibility. The Defendant shall produce from time to time upon oral or written request by a Probation Officer, a law enforcement officer, or official of a Georgia DHS-approved substance abuse or mental health provider personnel a breath, saliva, urine and/or blood specimen for analysis for the presence of drugs including alcohol.
- Records release. The Defendant shall provide a release which allows the Probation Office to have access to all medical, clinical, treatment, attendance or work records, and for driving and criminal history.
- Curfew. The Defendant shall abide by any curfew established by the Probation Officer.
- DNA sample. The Defendant has been convicted of a felony offense. In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 35-3-160, the Defendant shall provide a DNA sample.
- Avoid alcohol, drug use. The Defendant shall: [X] not consume alcoholic beverages, and not use narcotics or dangerous drugs unless lawfully prescribed [X] not associate with anyone who uses or possesses illegal drugs [X] not occupy any residence or vehicle where alcohol or illegal drugs are present [X] not consume alcohol and operate a motor vehicle [X] not go to establishments that serve alcohol.
Definitions and Information for Legal Terms
The following legal terms, procedures, etc. have been used in this article and in the spirit of providing the best information and context to the public they are defined and discussed below.
Alford Plea
The name, Alford plea, is taken from the case North Carolina v. Alford .
An Alford plea, also known as a “best-interests plea,” registers a formal admission of guilt towards charges in criminal court while the defendant simultaneously expresses their innocence toward those same charges . Like the nolo contendere plea, an Alford plea skips the full process of a criminal trial because the defendant agrees to accept all the ramifications of a guilty verdict (i.e. punishment).
The main difference between a nolo contendere plea and an Alford plea is that, in an Alford plea, the defendant formally pleads guilty, while in a nolo contendere plea, the defendant refuses to assert either guilt or innocence. This distinction is relevant because unlike a nolo contendere plea, a formal admission of guilt under an Alford plea can be used against the defendant in future suits.
As with all plea bargains , an Alford plea is not a right and it is ultimately up to the prosecutor and judge to decide if they will offer it. A few states like New Jersey and Indiana expressly forbid Alfrod pleas.
First Offender
The Law
Under O.C.G.A § 42-8-60, Defendants not previously convicted of a felony may be able to sentenced as a First Offender. Below is the partial text of the law. To view the full text of the law please click on this link.
- (a) When a defendant has not been previously convicted of a felony, the court may, upon a guilty verdict or plea of guilty or nolo contendere and before an adjudication of guilt, without entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the defendant, defer further proceedings and:
- (1) Place the defendant on probation; or
- (2) Sentence the defendant to a term of confinement.
- (b) The court shall not sentence a defendant under the provisions of this article unless the court has reviewed the defendant’s criminal record as such is on file with the Georgia Crime Information Center.
- (c) When a court imposes a sentence pursuant to this article, it:
- (1) Shall state in its sentencing order the prospective effective date of the defendant being exonerated of guilt and discharged as a matter of law, assuming the defendant successfully complies with its sentencing order, provided that such date may not have taken into account the awarding of credit for time served in custody; and
- (2) May limit access to certain information as provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 42-8-62.1.
- (d) The court may enter an adjudication of guilt and proceed to sentence the defendant as otherwise provided by law when the:
- (1) Defendant violates the terms of his or her first offender probation;
- (2) Defendant is convicted for another crime during the period of his or her first offender sentence; or
- (3) Court determines that the defendant is or was not eligible for first offender sentencing under this article.
- (e) A defendant sentenced pursuant to this article shall be exonerated of guilt and shall stand discharged as a matter of law as soon as the defendant:
- (1) Completes the terms of his or her probation, which shall include the expiration of the sentence by virtue of the time frame of the sentence passing, provided that such sentence has not otherwise been tolled or suspended;
- (2) Is released by the court under Code Section 42-8-37, 42-8-103, or 42-8-103.1 prior to the termination of the period of his or her probation; or
- (3) Is released from confinement and parole, provided that the defendant is not serving a split sentence.
As described on Sentencing Sheet
Form SC-6.2 Final Disposition Felony Sentence With Probation, the sheet that lists the sentence and that the defendant signs upon sentencing describes First Offender in the following statement.
FIRST OFFENDER OR CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE
(If designated by the Court)
The Defendant consenting hereto, it is the judgment of the Court that no judgment of guilt be imposed at this time but that further proceedings are deferred and the Defendant is hereby sentenced to confinement at such institution as the Commissioner of the State Department of Corrections or the Court may direct, with the period of confinement to be computed as provided by law.
Upon violation of the terms of probation, upon conviction for another crime during the period of probation, or upon the Court’s determination that the Defendant is or was not eligible for sentencing under the First Offender Act or for Conditional Discharge, the Court may enter an adjudication of guilt and proceed to sentence the Defendant to the maximum sentence as provided by law.
Upon fulfillment of the terms of this sentence, or upon release of the Defendant by the Court prior to the termination of this sentence, the Defendant shall stand discharged of said offense without court adjudication of guilt and shall be completely exonerated of guilt of said offense charged.
Nol. Pros. or Nolle Prosequi
A Latin phrase meaning “to be unwilling to prosecute.” A nolle prosequi is a prosecutor’s formal entry on the record indicating that he or she will no longer prosecute a pending criminal charge against the defendant . A nolle prosequi acts as a dismissal of the charges, usually without prejudice . In some states , a nolle prosequi after jeopardy attaches amounts to an acquittal and a bar to prosecution. Generally, a prosecutor can enter a nolle prosequi at any stage after indictment and until the imposition of a sentence .
Some states, like Michigan , require that the prosecutor obtain the court’s leave to nolle prosequi charges. Additionally, in some states, like Arkansas , the prosecutor is required to show good cause in order to obtain the courts leave.