Former Mayoral Candidate Pleads Guilty

Following alleged threats to a federal judge and , former Cartersville mayoral candidate Howard Gregory Cordell on Wednesday pleaded guilty to bank fraud, according to Rome News-Tribune.

Cordell was and it was set to begin Monday. According to the newspaper, Cordell pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in a deal with prosecutors—to have other charges dropped and get a 27-month prison sentence.

The hairdresser who did business in real estate had in federal court in connection with financing his million-dollar home, and still faces that later destroyed that Old Mill Road house in Cartersville.

Cordell is accused of arson and subsequently filing fraudulent mortgage and insurance claims related to the blaze that led to problems within the —three firefighters were disciplined for mishandling the investigation.

Both the state and federal charges were preceded by a civil case brought by Cordell and his wife, Alyssa, following the fire. They asked a jury to award them a payout from the company that insured the home, which became the site of one of the biggest residential fires in Cartersville’s history.

Insurance company attorneys argued Cordell was unable to make mortgage payments and hired someone to burn the home so he could collect an insurance settlement.

The Cordell's lost the case, the jury finding he either procured the arson—he and insurance company attorneys agreed that was the cause of the fire—or committed fraud during the claim process, or both.

In the federal criminal case, Cordell is set to be sentenced Feb. 16, according to Rome News-Tribune. U.S. attorneys agreed to recommend a 27-month sentence.