Atlanta, GA - Investment Advisor Pleads Guilty to Stealing from Clients

Robert A. Gist, who defrauded investors by lying about their investments, has pleaded guilty to a charge of mail fraud. The defendant used investors’ money to pay his personal expenses and to fund operations of a company in which he had a personal interest.

“Firms that offer to manage investments for clien... More...   $0 (09-09-2016 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Former Employee Sentenced for Embezzling over $1.2 Million from Accounting Firm and Client

Pamela B. Lewis has been sentenced for stealing over $1.2 million from her employer, an accounting firm, and her employer's client.

“Small firms depend on their accounting personnel to safeguard the financial health of the company and its clients,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn... More...   $0 (09-09-2016 - GA)

Craigslist Seller Sentenced for Five Armed Robberies

ATLANTA - Lavunte Collins has been sentenced on five counts of armed robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with his robbery of a string of victims that he lured through Craigslist.

“This case highlights the dangers of meeting strangers for commercial transactions... More...   $0 (08-08-2016 - GA)

Ex-Auburn, Georgia, Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Extortion and Drug Trafficking Charges

ATLANTA - Charles F. Hubbard has pleaded guilty to extortion and drug trafficking conspiracy charges. The defendant was an officer with the Auburn, Georgia, Police Department who used his law enforcement position and his patrol car to intercept and steal drugs and money.

“Hubbard assisted d... More...   $0 (08-19-2016 - GA)

Inmate Sentenced for Operating a Fake Jury Duty Money Laundering Scheme from Georgia State Prison

ATLANTA - Autry State Prison inmate Reginald Perkins has been sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for laundering $1 million in fraud proceeds arising from a “jury duty” telemarketing scam conducted by inmates at Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC) prisons.

“Prisons ... More...   $0 (08-22-2016 - GA)

Columbus Bank Robber Sentenced To 17 Years Imprisonment

United States Attorney G.F. “Pete” Peterman, III, announced that Victor Butler, age 59, of Columbus, Georgia, was sentenced on August 16, 2016, in Columbus, Georgia, by the Honorable Clay D. Land, United States District Judge, to serve a total of 204 months (17 years) imprisonment, without parole, for bank robbery.

Mr. Butle... More...   $0 (08-16-2016 - GA)

In the early morning hours on February 2, 2009, appellant, accompanied
by two women, went to a known drug house. Shortly thereafter, Jecedric Bell
and Alex Howard arrived, and Howard sold cocaine to the women. Appellant
became extremely angry with Howard, apparently because he did not believe
Howard should have been selling drugs in someone else’s drug house.
Appellant repea... More...   $0 (07-25-2016 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Using Stolen Identities to File False Tax Returns

A Marietta, Georgia, resident pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia today to one count of theft of public money and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Peter Isika, 46, admitted using stolen identities to file at least 50 false tax returns for ... More...   $0 (07-04-2016 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Defendants Sentenced in Million-Dollar Tax Fraud Scheme

Four defendants have been sentenced to federal prison for running a tax fraud scheme that involved using an ancestry/genealogy website to find personal information of victims and then file phony tax returns in their names.

“Identity thieves continue to find innovative ways to exploit the many beneficial aspects... More...   $0 (05-16-2016 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Immigration Attorney Sentenced to Probation for Assisting Alien in Immigation Fraud Scheme

Bonnie Monique Youn has been sentenced to two years on probation for her role in submitting a false application to adjust status on behalf of a Korean citizen to the Citizenship and Immigration Services.

“Youn is an immigration attorney and has a thorough familiarity with immi... More...   $0 (05-03-2016 - GA)

Savannah Drug Dealer Convicted Of Trafficking Heroin and Possessing Firearms

SAVANNAH, GA: Darius Andre “Arnie” Holmes, 41, of Savannah, Georgia, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury after a two-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr. for distributing heroin and possessing firearms as a felon on August 18, 2015.

According to the evidence presented du... More...   $0 (03-09-2016 - GA)

Savannah Man Sentenced To Nearly Thirteen Years in Federal Prison for Armed Bank Robbery

Savannah, GA: Jerald A. Bowman, 40, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, by Chief United States District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 155 months imprisonment for the February 3, 2015 armed robbery of the Navy Federal Credit Union in Richmond Hill, Georgia. Bowman was also found to be respon... More...   $0 (04-01-2016 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Former Bank Employees Sentenced for Executing Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Jeoffrey Jenkins and Vaughn Chambers were sentenced for their roles in a two-year long tax refund fraud scheme that generated hundreds of false tax returns and sought over $2.8 million in fraudulent tax refunds. Jenkins and Chambers, both bank employees, stole personally identifying inform... More...   $0 (03-16-2016 - GA)

Former Captain Sentenced For Withholding Evidence Favorable To A Defendant And Obstructing Justice

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that Elizabeth Croley, 37, a former captain at the Decatur County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for willfully withholding evidence favorable to a criminal defendant and for writing a false report to cover ... More...   $0 (03-15-2016 - GA)

Comer Man Sentenced To Serve 97 Months In Federal Prison For Possession Of Child Pornography

Brad Tyler Suddeth, age 33, of Comer, Georgia was sentenced yesterday to serve 97 months in prison for possession of child pornography. The sentence was handed down in Athens by the Honorable C. Ashley Royal, United States District Court Judge for the Middle District of Georgia.

Mr. Sudde... More...   $0 (03-16-2016 - GA)

Grady County Residents Sentenced For Burning Houses For Insurance

Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, G.F. Peterman, III, today announced the sentencing on March 24, 2016 of two individuals in an insurance fraud scheme. The sentences were handed by Senior District Court Judge W. Louis Sands in federal court in Albany, Georgia.

Elbert Walker, Jr. a/k... More...   $0 (03-24-2016 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Fraudulent Tax Preparers Sentenced to Federal Prison

Frederick Jenkins and Willie Jenkins were sentenced to over six years in federal prison after a jury convicted them of preparing and filing false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

“The defendants in this case blatantly stole from their clients and left them to deal with the tax liability,” said U. S. ... More...   $0 (03-24-2016 - GA)

Macon, GA Grady County Residents Sentenced For Burning Houses For Insurance

Elbert Walker, Jr. a/k/a “Shula”, aged 67, of Cairo, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 121 months in Federal prison for conspiracy to commit arson and mail, wire, bank and bankruptcy fraud and false declarations to a court as well as several firearms offenses and Shirley Burk, aged 48, of Cairo, Georgia, was sentenc... More...   $0 (03-24-2016 - GA)

Savannah, GA - Savannah Drug Dealer Convicted Of Trafficking Heroin and Possessing Firearms

Darius Andre “Arnie” Holmes, 41, of Savannah, Georgia, was convicted by a federal jury after a two-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr. for distributing heroin and possessing firearms as a felon on August 18, 2015.

According to the evidence presented during at t... More...   $0 (03-09-2016 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Sandy Springs Man Sentenced to Prison for Impersonating a U.S. Marshal

John Letcher Edens has been sentenced to one year in federal prison for impersonating a United States Marshal.

“Edens misrepresented that he was a U.S. Marshal to gain sensitive personal information to use in his skip tracing business,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “He abused the trust that is ... More...   $0 (02-11-2016 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Lawrenceville Pimp Convicted of Sex Trafficking

Travis Sentall Robinson, a/k/a “Triggaplay,” a/k/a “Trigga,” of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was convicted last week following a three-week jury trial of multiple sex-trafficking charges, including conspiracy to commit and commission of sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

“Calling hi... More...   $0 (02-09-2016 - GA)

Columbua, GA - Columbus Tax Preparers Plead Guilty To Identity Theft And Income Tax Fraud

Michelle Simmons, age 37, of Columbus, and LaRae Townsend, age 36, of Orlando, Florida each pled guilty on February 2, 2016 to one count of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of filing false and fictitious claims in front of the Honorable Clay D. Land, Chief U.S. Distric... More...   $0 (02-02-2016 - GA)

Following a jury trial, Fernando Collymore was found guilty of the felony
murder of Rosita Gates as well as the theft by taking of Gates’s vehicle.1
Collymore now appeals, contending that the trial court: (1) gave the jury an
improper charge on the concept of “accident;” (2) improperly sentenced him to
a felony rather than a misdemeanor for theft by taking; and (3) improperly
a... More...   $0 (01-28-2016 - GA)

Following a jury trial, Hodari Churchill was found guilty of felony murder
and cruelty to children in connection with the death of three-month-old Jada
McClain.1 On appeal, Churchill contends, among other things, that the trial court
erred by allowing into evidence certain photographs depicting prior injuries of
the child victim. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
1. Viewe... More...   $0 (01-28-2016 - GA)

In August 2008, Kelly Roberts entered a plea of guilty to felony murder
— after a Richmond County jury was struck to try him — in connection with the
fatal shooting of Ian Mosley. The trial court entered a judgment of conviction
and sentenced Roberts to imprisonment for life with the possibility of parole,
which was the sentence provided in the plea agreement. Roberts now appeals,<... More...   $0 (01-28-2016 - GA)

Following a jury trial, Lamar Gates was found guilty of malice murder and
various other crimes in connection with the shooting death of Anthony Wilson.1
On appeal, Gates contends, primarily, that the trial court erred in allowing
1 On February 28, 2013, Gates was indicted on one count of malice murder, two counts of felony murder (predicated on aggravated assault and possession of a fi... More...   $0 (01-28-2016 - GA)

Appellant Kevin Welch was convicted of malice murder in connection
with the shooting death of Alex Howard.1 He appeals, asserting, inter alia, the
trial court erred in refusing to strike two jurors for cause. Although we find the
enumerated errors to be without merit, we find error with regard to the sentence.
Accordingly, we must vacate and remand to the trial court for resente... More...   $0 (01-28-2016 - GA)

Joshua Samuel Simpson was tried by a Walker County jury and convicted
of murder and aggravated assault, both in connection with the killing of Michael
Wyscaver. Simpson appeals, contending that the evidence is legally insufficient
to sustain his convictions, that the trial court erred both when it admitted certain
photographs of the victim and when it charged the jury, and that he ... More...   $0 (01-28-2016 - GA)

Tariq Smith was tried by a Fulton County jury and convicted of murder
and several other crimes in connection with the fatal shooting of Emmanuel
Opoku-Afari. Smith appeals, contending that the trial court erred when it
removed one of the jurors after the evidence was closed. We find no merit in
that contention, but we note that the trial court erred when it failed to sentence
S... More...   $0 (01-25-2016 - GA)

Tariq Smith was tried by a Fulton County jury and convicted of murder
and several other crimes in connection with the fatal shooting of Emmanuel
Opoku-Afari. Smith appeals, contending that the trial court erred when it
removed one of the jurors after the evidence was closed. We find no merit in
that contention, but we note that the trial court erred when it failed to sentence
S... More...   $0 (01-20-2016 - GA)

Appellant Carl Ray Adams was convicted of malice murder in connection
with the shooting death of his roommate, Randall Johnson, and was sentenced
to life imprisonment. Adams now appeals his conviction on the grounds that the
evidence was insufficient and that trial counsel was ineffective. Finding no
error, we affirm. Viewed in a light most favorable to the jury’s verdicts, the ... More...   $0 (01-19-2016 - GA)

Between 2007 and 2011, Defendant Doxie was employed by Ennis Paint as
its Corporate Environmental Health and Safety Manager. During this time, Doxie
defrauded Ennis Paint by creating and submitting fictitious invoices for
environmental work ostensibly performed by a company called Outlook.
Unbeknownst to Ennis Paint, Doxie was the owner and sole employee of Outlook,
and ... More...   $0 (01-09-2016 - GA)

Savannah, GA - Government Settles Alleged False Claims Act Violations With Memorial Health, Inc.

Memorial Health, Inc., Memorial Health University Medical Center, Inc., Provident Health Services, Inc., and MPPG, Inc. d/b/a Memorial Health University Physicians have agreed to pay $9,895,043.04 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to the Govern... More...   $0 (12-23-2015 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Former Owner and Former Supervisor of “Direct Tax” Preparation Business Sentenced for Tax Fraud

Jessica Hills and Kiisha Hills have been sentenced for their roles in a tax fraud scheme involving Direct Tax, a tax preparation business with three locations in the Atlanta-College Park area. Jessica Hills owned and operated Direct Tax, and her sister, Kiisha Hills, acted as a s... More...   $0 (12-15-2015 - GA)

Atlanta, GA - Lead Defendant Sentenced in $5.8 Million Mortgage Fraud Ring

Chiedu “George” Chukwuka has been sentenced in connection with his lead role in a mortgage fraud ring that spanned five years and caused millions in losses. Chukwuka, along with his co-defendants and other co-conspirators, engaged in a massive property-flipping scheme resulting in over $5.8 million in actual losse... More...   $0 (12-18-2015 - GA)

ATLANTA - Daphne Maria Patterson has been sentenced to five years and one month in federal prison for health care fraud and aggravated identity theft for filing claims with health insurance companies in which she sought reimbursement for providing medical care to patients that she never provided. Patterson stole personal identifying information from her patients and their family members so she cou... More...   $0 (12-16-2015 - GA)

This matter is before the Court on Defendant Cole Jamal Daniels's ("Defendant" or "Daniels") Objections [62, 66] to Magistrate Judge E. Clayton Scofield, III's Reports and Recommendations [60, 64], issued on October 24 and November 20, 2014. The Magistrate Judge recommends that Defendant's Motion to Suppress Statements [23], and Motion to Suppress Evidence [24] derived from his arrest and the seiz... More...   $0 (12-18-2015 - GA)

Gainesville, GA - Former Habersham County Georgia Sheriff's Deputy Found Not Guilty

The United States of America charged former Habersham County sheriff's deputy NIkki Autry with three multiple counts of violating 18 U.S.C. 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, by throwing a flash bang device into a room that landed in a playpen occupied by 19-month-old Bounkham "Bou Bou" Phonesa... More...   $0 (12-11-2015 - GA)

On March 4, 2015, Jeffrey Wright pled guilty to felony murder and, on
that same day, was sentenced in the Wilcox County Superior Court to life
imprisonment in connection with the February 14, 2014 burglary and stabbing
death of Franz Tarth. On April 6, 2015,Wright filed a pro se motion to withdraw
his guilty plea, which the trial court denied on April 9, 2015. Wright filed a proMore...   $0 (11-18-2015 - GA)

Macon, GA - Statesboro Man Convicted On Identity Theft Charges

Jai Devon Lee, age 39, of Statesboro, Georgia, was convicted on October 27, 2015 of identity theft, aggravated identity theft and fraud in connection with access devices following a two-day jury trial in Valdosta. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Hugh Lawson presided over the trial.

Evidence presented at trial showed... More...   $0 (10-29-2015 - GA)