Petula Burks did not violate city rules or abuse her authority as Richmond’s top spokesperson when she hired a former business associate to make promotional videos for the city, an internal investigation found.
The inspector general’s report said Burks didn’t violate city procurement rules when she spent $355,580 over about two years on videos produced by companies owned by Cameus Chicoye, her former associate.
The investigation also concluded there was no evidence their previous relationship as co-founders of a Florida charity led to a conflict of interest — or that Burks abused her authority as an employee in selecting Chicoye’s businesses to fulfill city contracts.
“The former Director and their previous associate did not conceal their previous business history, and the media production companies were registered vendors with the City,” the IG report states. “The former Director does not profit from the media production companies and is not professionally affiliated with them other than hiring them to work for the City.”
The pair’s relationship stretches back to at least 2013, when Burks first engaged Chicoye to produce videos for the Florida locality where she was employed at the time. They registered the company In the Name of Grace - Grace's Love Corporation during 2015.
Again in Augusta, Georgia — where Burks worked as the mayor’s chief of staff — Chicoye produced videos for the locality.
Richmond’s Office of Strategic Communications and Civic Engagement, the department Burks led, gave city investigators a list of 102 projects produced by Chicoye’s companies.
The videos and projects shared with the IG’s office aligned with dates and descriptions on city invoices from the companies.
“The amount the City of Richmond paid for the media production services is fair and reasonable; both companies offer combined services unavailable elsewhere in the City,” the report said.
Burks was hired by the city at the beginning of 2022 and had access to a purchase card revoked the following year. She resigned from her post in 2024 amid a whistleblower lawsuit that claimed Burks directed a subordinate to withhold information sought through Freedom of Information Act requests.
A circuit court judge recently denied a motion by the city to dismiss the case.
Burks started a consulting firm, J. Hampton Strategies, with business interests in the city weeks after she resigned in July 2024. The firm has held events and workshops, and will host an event called “Let’s Talk About Love” this weekend in Richmond.
A text VPM News received from a number associated with J. Hampton Strategies asked that questions be sent via email. After following up via email, VPM News did not receive a statement by deadline Friday.
Dave Cantor contributed reporting.
