News Summary
FBI agents have initiated an investigation at the Augusta Municipal Building regarding approximately $6.5 million in missing COVID relief funds. The investigation targets the Department of Housing and Community Development, with scrutiny on both the handling of federal resources and a recent lease agreement. Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson acknowledges the FBI’s presence but has not been briefed on the progress. The U.S. Treasury has demanded the return of unutilized funds, prompting an ongoing audit and raising concerns about local government operations and public trust.
Augusta, Georgia—FBI agents conducted law enforcement activities at the Augusta Municipal Building on Thursday, May 22, 2025, as part of an ongoing investigation into missing COVID relief funds. The inquiry is centered around the Department of Housing and Community Development, where approximately $6.5 million intended for rental assistance during the pandemic has reportedly gone unaccounted for. The situation has led to significant scrutiny of the department’s operations and the handling of federal funds.
FBI representatives from the Atlanta Field Office confirmed the agency’s presence at the municipal building but refrained from offering additional details regarding the investigation. Although Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson acknowledged awareness of the FBI’s visit, he emphasized that he had not met with the agents and could not provide more information about their activities.
The investigation appears to be linked to Hawthorne Welcher, the director of the Housing and Community Development Department, who has currently been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the inquiry. The missing funds were part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which was designed to provide financial assistance to individuals facing difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further complicating matters, the U.S. Treasury Department has demanded the return of the missing $6.5 million after it was determined that the funds had not been utilized as intended. An audit examining the operations of the Housing and Community Development Department is now underway to investigate the circumstances surrounding the misallocation of funds.
Additional scrutiny has emerged regarding a recent lease agreement involving the Weed School and WODA Cooper Development. This lease, finalized on May 16, 2025, occurred amid several days of rapid meetings leading up to the signing, raising questions about the propriety of the process. The circumstances surrounding both the missing funds and the lease agreement are now under investigation by federal authorities.
As a standard procedure, the FBI does not comment on active investigations, and thus, details about the progress and findings of their inquiry remain limited at this time. The community is closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds, with many residents expressing concern over the implications of potential mishandling of public funds and the overall integrity of local government operations.
The immediate next steps for the Augusta City Council include assessing the findings from the ongoing audit and determining the appropriate course of action to ensure accountability and restore public trust. In light of the developments, officials stress the importance of transparency and oversight in handling federal resources to prevent future discrepancies.
This situation comes at a critical time, as many communities continue to grapple with the financial aftermath of the pandemic, making effective use of federal assistance vital for recovery efforts. Local leaders are expected to face mounting pressure from constituents to address these issues and ensure that federal resources are utilized effectively and responsibly moving forward.
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Additional Resources
- WRDW: FBI Has Been Conducting Law Enforcement Activities at Augusta City Offices
- Wikipedia: Federal Bureau of Investigation
- WJBF: FBI Agents Conducting Investigation in Augusta
- Google Search: FBI investigation Augusta
- The Augusta Press: FBI Confirms Investigation in Augusta
- Encyclopedia Britannica: FBI
- WFXG: FBI Special Agents Descend on Augusta Municipal Building
- Google News: COVID relief funds
- Fox 5 Atlanta: 9 Arrested in FBI Georgia Operation
- Google Scholar: COVID relief fund misallocation
