Federal prosecutors are calling for a prison term of approximately three years for Jim Beard, the former chief financial officer of Atlanta, ahead of his sentencing on Tuesday. Beard, who admitted to embezzling city funds and obstructing an IRS audit, has faced criticism for his ongoing refusal to acknowledge the full extent of his crimes.
Jim Beard Embezzlement Case: Prosecutors Challenge Beard’s Denials
In a sentencing memo filed on Sunday, prosecutors revealed Beard’s continued objections to the details of his financial misconduct. Despite pleading guilty in April, Beard has denied all claims of fraud and tax loss attributed to him. The government contends that his denials include disputes over thousands of dollars spent on personal luxuries and vacations, allegedly charged to his city-issued credit card.
The IRS audit Beard obstructed involved fabricating a nonexistent personal business to claim illicit losses, including expenses for travel funded by the city. Prosecutors argue that Beard’s sweeping objections undermine his acknowledgment of responsibility and may jeopardize the reduced sentence typically afforded to those who plead guilty.
Photos Highlight Alleged Misuse of Funds
The sentencing memo includes images depicting Beard on lavish vacations, which prosecutors assert were funded with taxpayer money. Among the photos is a selfie of Beard at the Golden Gate Bridge and another of him on a balcony with the Eiffel Tower in the background. A particularly notable expense was a $10,000 stay at a Parisian five-star hotel, charged to his city credit card.
