Former Henry County Bank Exec Mark Conner Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges

Mark Conner, a former Henry County bank president pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to charges of fraud and perjury. The U.S. attoey says Mark Conners actions lead led to his bank and others having to close. They say it’s one of several costly schemes that helped lead to the current economic crisis.

Federal prosecutors say 44-year-old Mark Conner was driven by greed.

They say between 2004 and 2007, his crimes put at least $7 million in his own pocket at a tremendous cost to countless other people.

The former bank executive stood in an orange jail sweatshirt and pants in a federal court Friday.

Conner was the president of First City Bank in Stockbridge, but he was also a real estate developer.

He admitted Friday to abusing his position and to forging loan documents for people buying his properties.

He pled guilty to fleecing other banks to take loans as well, which netted millions for himself. His alleged actions put those banks – including his own -- in a position to where they had to close down.

He even applied for federal bailout assistance to try and cover up his operation.

Georgia leads the nation in bank closures. The U.S. attoey says there are more criminal investigations into other bank executives who committed crimes similar to Conner’s.

As part of a plea deal, Conner will serve a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.

His exact sentence will be determined early next year.