LAWRENCEVILLE – Last week,  former city official and a local businessman were indicted Wednesday on state racketeering and bribery charges tied to a multimillion-dollar gas pipeline contract scheme.

The Gwinnett County Grand Jury charged Joshua Heath Morris, former assistant gas director for operations, and Westly Lee Griffin, owner of W.L. Griffin Company, with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. They also face charges of bribery and conspiracy to restrain free and open competition in public contracting.

From January 2024 through March 2025, prosecutors allege Morris steered valuable city pipeline contracts—totaling approximately $11 million over four years—toward the inexperienced W.L. Griffin Company in exchange for at least 30% of the profits.

Morris and Griffin reportedly communicated more than 50 times during closed bidding periods—a clear violation of the city’s non-collusion policies. Morris then helped Griffin’s company become eligible to bid and even canceled previously approved agreements to benefit Griffin’s interests.

Further, Morris formed a private firm with his son—Natural Gas Consultation and Operation Services, LLC—while still employed by the city, with the intention of channeling a portion of profits from the scheme. He allegedly continued aiding contract performance on the job and accepted use of a corporate credit card before his March departure from the city job.

District Attorney Patsy Austin‑Gatson stressed accountability for public officials, vowing to pursue the case “to the fullest extent of the law.” Meanwhile, the City of Lawrenceville is cooperating with prosecutors and has launched a forensic audit and a review of its purchasing policies to safeguard taxpayer funds.

Lawrenceville’s natural gas department, servicing around 50,000 customers in Gwinnett, Rockdale, and Walton counties, is Georgia’s second-largest municipally owned gas utility.