Former Acworth municipal court administrator accused of stealing more than $500K

The former municipal court administrator for the city of Acworth has been accused of stealing more than $500,000 in cash bonds from the city's municipal court over an 18-month period, according to arrest warrants and city officials.

Trevez Richards, 37, of Kennesaw, was arrested July 9 by the Cobb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Squad and has been charged with 18 counts of felony theft by taking, one count of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, one count of felony criminal interference with government property and one count of second-degree burglary.

He is being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

According to the warrants, Richards allegedly stole a total of $574,702 in cash bonds from the Acworth Municipal Court between Nov. 10, 2023, and April 25, 2025.

Investigators allege Richards first took $2,756 in cash bond payments between Nov. 10 and 11, 2023, by removing the money from a secure lockbox and failing to turn it over to the court's customer service manager.

Authorities say the thefts continued over the next 17 months. The warrants allege Richards repeatedly failed to deposit cash bond payments into the city's bank account, with monthly amounts ranging from approximately $16,800 to nearly $49,800.

The largest alleged theft occurred in January 2025, when investigators say Richards failed to deposit $49,773 in cash bond funds. Other months exceeded $48,000, according to the warrants.

Because investigators allege Richards committed theft by taking on 18 separate occasions while employed by the city, prosecutors also charged him under Georgia's RICO Act, alleging the repeated thefts constituted a pattern of criminal activity.

According to City Manager James Albright, the city began an internal administrative investigation after identifying financial "discrepancies."

Albright said in a news release that Richards was placed on administrative leave May 5, 2025, while the city conducted an internal administrative investigation. Richards resigned the following day.

Investigators allege that after receiving notice of his administrative leave, Richards returned to the municipal court building before dawn on May 6, 2025, without authorization.

According to the warrants, Richards entered the courthouse between about 4:20 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., shredded documents and removed three boxes of items from the building. Those allegations resulted in the burglary and criminal interference with government property charges.

Albright said the city asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Cobb County District Attorney's Office to assist with the investigation "to ensure complete transparency and impartiality."

Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood said they were feeling "betrayed" and "deeply disappointed."

"We have zero tolerance for misconduct," Allegood said. "We appreciate the GBI, Cobb County District Attorney's Office and Cobb County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in this matter. We have faith in the process moving forward."

The city said it had no further comment at this time due to pending legal action.

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