A former executive at an Atlanta-based design, engineering and construction management firm has pleaded guilty to bribing two city officials who helped his firm win contracts worth millions of dollars. The plea came from Lohrasb “Jeff” Jafari, former executive vice president of PRAD Group Inc., who prosecutors say oversaw the company’s finances.
During a 35-minute hearing April 19 in U.S. district court in Atlanta, Jafari changed his plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors, admitting to two counts of bribery and one of tax evasion, records show. He had faced more than 50 charges, with other alleged crimes including tampering with a witness and money laundering, although the other charges will be dropped, according to the agreement.