Augusta — What started as a simple bouquet turned into a criminal case. Forty-year-old Paul Martin Cohen of Augusta faces a formal bribery charge after allegedly trying to influence Le’Joi Williamson, a judge overseeing his housing dispute, with a bouquet of flowers in November 2024.
In November 2024, Cohen showed up near the courthouse on James Brown Boulevard carrying flowers — and asked a court deputy if they could deliver them directly to Judge Williamson. The deputy agreed but sensed something was off: Cohen seemed reluctant, hesitant to hand over the bouquet himself.
When the flowers arrived in court, they carried more than just petals. Tucked inside was a letter from Cohen claiming he had paid overdue rent to his property manager and pleading with the court to “resolve the matter appropriately” to prevent his eviction. Judge Williamson, taken aback by the surprise delivery and the request, discarded both the flowers and the letter.
For more than a year, nothing happened publicly. Then, on November 25, 2025, authorities arrested Cohen, formally charging him with bribery over the incident.
Under Georgia law, a bribery conviction carries serious consequences: fines up to $5,000 and potential prison time ranging from one to 20 years.
The case has triggered confusion and concern in the local community. On its face, the attempt seemed almost innocent — an awkward gift with a message — yet state law treats such gestures harshly when tied to legal proceedings. It’s a reminder that even gestures meant to appeal to empathy can cross a strict legal line when they’re meant to influence a judge.
For now, Cohen remains under arrest. The charge is a stark warning to anyone tempted to take unconventional routes when facing eviction or legal trouble — sometimes sincerity is no defense.
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