Months after launching an investigation into Zentell Communications and former Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Blake Elsberry, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) has provided no new public statements, confirming only that the probe is “active and ongoing.”

This lack of new information comes as the owner of Chattanooga-based Zentell Communications admitted guilt earlier this year in failing to deliver a $300,000 internet broadband expansion project in Menlo, a project funded by the American Rescue Plan. Local city officials in Menlo have stated they never approved the project and observed no work being performed by the company.

Jonathan Allen, managing member of Zentell Communications, “effectively admitted guilt” regarding the unfulfilled Menlo broadband project in July, according to local officials.  The City of Menlo maintain they had no prior knowledge of the project and witnessed no activity by the company.

This situation is intertwined with a wider scandal involving potential misappropriation of funds in Chattooga County. Current Commissioner Andy Allen confirmed earlier this year that the GBI is continuing its investigation into former Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Blake Elsberry for suspected misappropriation of county funds.

The GBI’s investigation follows a civil lawsuit filed by Chattooga County in Superior Court in April against Zentell Communications and Jonathan Allen. The lawsuit alleges that Zentell received over $300,000 for work that was never performed under a contract approved by Elsberry during his tenure as commissioner. Chattooga County’s civil action accuses Zentell of breach of contract, willful misrepresentation, fraud, deceit, and misappropriation of county funds.

In a court document signed on July 14, Jonathan Allen reportedly admitted to the allegations presented in the Chattooga County lawsuit, agreeing to a consent judgment totaling $333,265.

Social media posts revealed that Blake Elsberry accepted a position with Zentell Communications immediately after leaving his role as county commissioner in January of this year. Elsberry initially announced this employment on social media, but has since reportedly removed all mentions of Zentell from his online profiles. Elsberry has maintained a public silence on the matter and has not issued any comments regarding the incidents or the ongoing state investigation.

With the GBI offering no further details, the community and interested parties await further developments in the investigation.