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July 2008
July 22, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - SUSAN DENISE HARPER, 43, of Lithonia, Georgia, KEVIAN BATEMAN, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, and OJINEKA JONES GODWIN, 51, of Alpharetta, Georgia, were sentenced today by United States Chief District Judge Jack T. Camp on charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud arising from a check fraud scheme against an insurance company.
THREE SENTENCED IN CHECK FRAUD SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
July 16, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - QUANTAVIOUS GREENE, 28, of Jackson, Georgia, and ELIJAH CHANDLER, 21, of College Park, were sentenced today by United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans on charges of aiding and abetting one another in using the telephone to call in a false bomb threat to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and later making false statements to FBI agents regarding the call.
TWO MEN SENTENCED FOR MAKING FALSE BOMB THREAT TO C-D-C Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
July 14, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - VICTOR ABILES GOMEZ, 20, OMAR MENDOZA-VILLEGAS, 19, and GERARDO SOLORIO REYES, a/k/a “Gera,” 23, all from Mexico and illegally in the United States, are making an initial appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Janet King, on charges related to a drug-related kidnapping incident.
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES RESCUE HOSTAGE HELD CAPTIVE FOR NEARLY A WEEK IN ALLEGED DRUG-DEALING DISPUTE Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
July 11, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - JAMES P. ROBINSON, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of tax evasion, arising out of a scheme to defraud Home Depot.
ANOTHER FORMER HOME DEPOT EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO VENDOR KICKBACK SCHEME AND TAX EVASION Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
July 8, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - The United States Attorney's Office today announced that St. Louis University, in St. Louis, Missouri, has agreed to pay $1 million to settle allegations raised in a “whistleblower” lawsuit that the University’s School of Public Health violated the federal False Claims Act by mischarging “additive” or “supplemental” pay for its faculty members to federally funded grants, contracts and cooperative agreements.
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY AGREES TO PAY $1 MILLION TO SETTLE FEDERAL FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
July 7, 2008
GAINESVILLE, GA - MOLLY A. SMITH, 50, of Lula, Georgia, was sentenced to prison today by United States District Judge William C. O’Kelley on tax-related fraud charges. The sentencing of her daughter, MAYKIE BLEVINS, 29, also of Lula, Georgia, was rescheduled from today until July 16, 2008, on related charges.
MOTHER SENTENCED IN FRAUD SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
July 7, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - AMADOR CORTES-MEZA, a/k/a “Javier,” 34, JUAN CORTES-MEZA, 31, FRANCISCO CORTES-MEZA, a/k/a “Paco,” 25, and RAUL CORTES-MEZA, a/k/a “Oscar,” 21, all of Mexico and living in Norcross, Georgia, and EDISON WAGNER ROSA TORT, a/k/a “Caruso,” 69, of Uruguay and living in Cartersville, Georgia, were arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Janet F. King on a 31-count superseding indictment charging them with human trafficking and related offenses.
FIVE DEFENDANTS CHARGED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING RING FOR BRINGING YOUNG WOMEN INTO THE U. S. FROM MEXICO Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
July 2, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - TERRENCE CLAY, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, a former employee with the Atlanta-based Correctional Center Dismas Charities, Inc., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story to one year in prison for soliciting and taking bribes from a federal inmate.
FORMER EMPLOYEE AT ATLANTA HALFWAY HOUSE SENTENCED FOR SOLICITING AND TAKING BRIBES FROM A FEDERAL INMATE Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 2008
June 30, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - ZACHARY HURLEY, 28, and JONATHAN PORTWOOD, 26, of Atlanta, GA, and STEPHEN PIWOWAR, 46, of Marietta, GA, were sentenced today by United States District Judge Beverly B. Martin on charges of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods.
THREE SENTENCED IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COUNTERFEIT GOODS SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 30, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - ANTHONY M. TESVICH, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion, arising out of a scheme to defraud Home Depot.
FORMER HOME DEPOT EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO VENDOR KICKBACK SCHEME AND TAX EVASION Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 27, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - MAJALAI WISDOM, 49, of Union City, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Beverly B. Martin on the charge of conspiracy to submit false claims to the United States in connection with a false income tax refund scheme.
UNION CITY WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR CONSPIRACY TO SUBMIT FRAUDULENT INCOME TAX RETURNS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 20, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - GERALD MARCHELLETTA, JR., 42, GERALD MARCHELLETTA, SR., 73, and THERESA KOTTWITZ, 50, all of Alpharetta, Georgia, were sentenced today on charges of committing and conspiring to commit tax fraud.
OWNERS AND FORMER BOOKKEEPER OF COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION FIRM SENTENCED IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR TAX FRAUD SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 19, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - CARLOS LOPEZ, 30, and RANDY SPIVEY, 32, both active-duty Army Rangers, pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge Beverly B. Martin to their roles in a conspiracy to rob a cocaine dealer. DAVID RAY WHITE, 28, also a Ranger, is scheduled to plead guilty tomorrow before a United States District Judge.
ARMY RANGERS PLEAD GUILTY TO CONSPIRING TO ROB DRUG TRAFFICKER Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 19, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - In a brief news conference, the head of the FBI's Atlanta Division and the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia said this afternoon that mortgage fraud continues to be a serious problem and a major focus of federal law enforcement in metro Atlanta, with significant cases being brought as recently as yesterday.
ATLANTA, NORTH GEORGIA STILL HOT AREA FOR MORTGAGE FRAUD & “OPERATION MALICIOUS MORTGAGE” Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 18, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - DOSSEY RICHARDS, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia; LOVIE HOBBS, a/k/a “Lovie Hobbs Hagwood,” 47, of Lithonia, Georgia; MONTRA McKENZIE, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia; CYRUS DAVIS, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia; MARCUS VICKERS, 35, of Ellenwood, Georgia; RAYSHUAN HARMON, 27, of East Point, Georgia; and MICHELLE DAVILA, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, have been arrested on a federal criminal complaint related to a mortgage fraud scheme.
MAJOR MORTGAGE FRAUD SCAM BUSTED Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 18, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - LESLIE ADGAR, 42, of Decatur, Georgia, ANDRE MAYS, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, and JON PATTON, 44, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty today to their involvement in a cocaine and heroin smuggling operation at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.
TSA AND DELTA EMPLOYEES PLEAD GUILTY IN DRUG SMUGGLING STING AT HARTSFIELD JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 18, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - MALIKA GARRETT, 42, of Woodstock, Georgia, her husband, RUSSELL GARRETT, 43, a Forsyth County Deputy Sheriff, also of Woodstock, Georgia, and her father-in-law, D. WILLIAM GARRETT, Jr., 72, a Fulton County Magistrate Judge, of Alpharetta, Georgia, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in a nine-count indictment, charging the defendants with human trafficking, alien harboring, witness tampering, and making false statements.
THREE FAMILY MEMBERS INDICTED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND RELATED CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 18, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - JAMES BARTHOLOMEW “BART” HUSKEY, 38, of LaFayette, Georgia, has been arrested by federal, state and local law enforcement authorities on a federal criminal complaint charging him with manufacturing child pornography and uploading it to the Internet.
NORTHWEST GEORGIA MAN ALLEGED TO HAVE PRODUCED AN INTERNATIONALLY-KNOWN SERIES OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 17, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - WALTER RONNIE ("RON") SAILOR, JR., 33, of Norcross, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to a superseding information charging him with wire fraud in connection with a fraudulently obtained loan, as well as laundering and attempting to launder what he believed to be $375,000 in drug proceeds.
FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE RON SAILOR JR. PLEADS GUILTY TO ADDITIONAL FEDERAL CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 12, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - JAMES P. ROBINSON, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged today in a Criminal Information with two counts of income tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud against Home Depot, relating to a kickback scheme involving overseas vendors.
SECOND FORMER HOME DEPOT EMPLOYEE CHARGED IN ALLEGED VENDOR KICKBACK SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 5, 2008
ROME, GA - BARRY WALLACE, 41, of Cedartown, Georgia, was sentenced today to one year, one month in federal prison by United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy for stealing firearms while employed as a captain by the Polk County Police Department.
FORMER POLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR POSSESSING STOLEN FIREARMS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 5, 2008
ROME, GA - WILLIAM “Billy” WILLS, JR., 48, former Chief of the Polk County Police Department, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy for making false statements to federal agents.
FORMER POLK COUNTY POLICE CHIEF SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 3, 2008
ROME, GA - DANIEL VILLENAS-REYES, 36, of Cedartown, Georgia, was sentenced to life in prison plus 160 years, and HOUSTON SHANE ROSSER, 36, of Centre, Alabama, was sentenced to life plus 50 years, as a federal district court completed the sentencing of the first 23 of a total of 30 defendants who were convicted earlier this year of crimes ranging from murder to racketeering, methamphetamine trafficking, and firearms offenses.
DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO MULTIPLE LIFE PRISON TERMS IN ROME RACKETEERING CASE Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
June 2, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - DANIEL BETTS, 26, of Rockmart, Georgia, was sentenced today on a charge of taking payoffs for “extra jobs” that really involved the performance of his normal duties as a police officer while on duty.
ATLANTA POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED FOR TAKING “EXTRA JOB” PAYMENTS TO PERFORM OFFICIAL DUTIES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 2008
May 29, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Dr. PHILLIP C. ASTIN, III, 52, of Carrollton, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on additional charges relating to overprescribing prescription drugs.
MORE CHARGES AGAINST DOCTOR FOR ILLEGAL DRUG DISTRIBUTION Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 29, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - ANTHONY M. TESVICH, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged today in a Criminal Information with three counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud against Home Depot, relating to a kickback scheme from vendors.
FORMER EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING HOME DEPOT IN VENDOR KICKBACK SCHEME AND TAX EVASION Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 21, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - After a two-week trial, a federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against KIRK WRIGHT, 37, of Marietta, Georgia, on charges of mail fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering, relating to the 2006 collapse of WRIGHT’s Atlanta-based hedge fund company, International Management Associates (“IMA”).
ATLANTA HEDGE FUND MANAGER CONVICTED IN $150 MILLION FRAUD SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 20, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - TRAVIS WALTER CORK, 50, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William S. Duffey on charges of threatening to assault a federal Magistrate Judge and intimidating and impeding a federal probation officer from performing her duties.
MAN JUST RELEASED FROM PRISON RETURNED TO PRISON FOR THREATENING FEDERAL JUDGE AND PROBATION OFFICER Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 14, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - HASMUKH C. PATEL, 52, a Business Interface Representative for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and former USCIS Adjudication Officer, and his wife, NITIGNA H. PATEL, 46, both of McDonough, Georgia, were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 13, 2008.
TWO INDICTED IN VISA PROGRAM FRAUD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 13, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - DONNA RENEE GAMBLE, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to charges arising out of a scheme to defraud the Georgia Institute of Technology ("Georgia Tech") and the National Science Foundation (“NSF”), an agency of the United States Government.
FORMER GEORGIA TECH EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY IN “P-CARD” SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 12, 2008
ROME, GA - BRENTON JAMES GARMON, 36, of Cartersville, Georgia, was sentenced today in federal district court by Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr. for embezzling and converting $80,493.78 in public funds to his own use while GARMON worked as a Captain for the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office.
FORMER CAPTAIN WITH BARTOW COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLING COUNTY FUNDS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 6, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - HERIBERTO TORRES-ROMERO, 57, of Bogota, Colombia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr., for his role in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking.
“OPERATION RAINMAKER” RESULTS IN NEARLY THREE DOZEN CONVICTIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERERS & DRUG TRAFFICKERS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
May 1, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - CLOVIS REEVES, 34, of Newark, New Jersey, was found guilty today by a federal jury on charges of conspiracy to illegally purchase firearms, aiding and abetting the falsification of firearms records, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
JURY FINDS NEWARK MAN GUILTY IN EAST COAST GUN TRAFFICKING OPERATION Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
April 2008
Apr 29, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - TERRENCE CLAY, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, a former employee with the Atlanta-based Correctional Center Dismas Charities, Inc., pleaded guilty today in federal district court to soliciting and taking bribes from a federal inmate.
FORMER EMPLOYEE AT ATLANTA HALFWAY HOUSE PLEADS GUILTY TO SOLICITING AND TAKING BRIBES FROM A FEDERAL INMATE Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 28, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Following a two week trial, a jury in federal district court returned a guilty verdict earlier today against ANGELA D. ISLEY, 44, of Atlanta, Georgia, on charges of health care fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering.
JURY CONVICTS FORMER MEDICAL SUPPLY EXECUTIVE IN MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 28, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - WAYNE TALIAFERRO, 56, of Alpharetta, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman on his guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of illegally importing a leopard skin and skull from South Africa, a violation of the federal Endangered Species Act.
ILLEGAL IMPORT OF SKULL & LEOPARD SKIN LEADS TO $20,000 FINE FOR VIOLATING ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 25, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - After a bench trial in district court, a federal judge today returned a guilty verdict against KELLY FARLEY, 39, of McKinney, Texas on charges of crossing state lines to have sex with a child under 12 and using a computer to entice a child to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
TEXAS MAN GUILTY OF TRAVELING GEORGIA TO HAVE SEX WITH A CHILD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 23, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - AARON TERRY, 55, of Wichita Falls, Texas; TIMOTHY THOMAS, 51, of Powder Springs, Georgia; JAMES MCMANN, 43, of Kent, Washington; and ERIC AUYANG, 56, of Mobile, Alabama, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on charges of conspiracy and major fraud against the United States relating to a defense procurement fraud scheme.
CURRENT & EX -ARMY OFFICIALS & TWO CONTRACTORS INDICTED ON DEFENSE PROCUREMENT FRAUD CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 22, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Eight illegal immigrants have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to unlawfully manufacture and possess fraudulent identification documents, including Social Security cards, permanent resident cards, and driver’s licenses and identification cards from multiple states, and to encourage and induce aliens to reside in the United States in violation of the law. Five of the defendants were also charged with aggravated identity theft.
EIGHT DEFENDANTS INDICTED IN FAKE I-D DOCUMENT CONSPIRACY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 22, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - WILLIAM CARTER GORMAN, 54, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced today to a term of 10 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography.
GWINNETT PHARMACIST SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR COLLECTING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 17, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - VIRGINIA ROSE NOVRIT, 67, of Hilton Head, South Carolina, CLARENCE LORENZO DAVIS, 68, of Hilton Head, South Carolina, GREGORY JEROME WINGS, JR., 25, of Atlanta, Georgia, OLYMPIA D. AMMONS, 31, of St. Louis, Missouri, and RONALD DENZIL MARTIN, JR., 37, of Lithonia, Georgia, were sentenced this week by United States District Judge Beverly B. Martin on charges of conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering related to a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme.
FIVE SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR MORTGAGE FRAUD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 17, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - CHARDRIQUEZ DURDEN, 24, of Lithonia, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge J. Owen Forrester on charges of assaulting federal agents with a firearm; making false statements to a federal licensed firearms dealer in order to straw purchase a firearm; possession of cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana with intent to distribute; and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
DURDEN SENTENCED TO OVER 43 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING AT ATF AGENTS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 16, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Ten defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury late yesterday on charges of conspiring to induce undocumented aliens to remain in the United States by providing them with employment, predominantly at Chinese restaurants, and transporting aliens to the restaurants, all for commercial gain, in violation federal law.
OWNERS OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES INDICTED Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 15, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - BRUCE ALLEN HUGHES, 47, of Blairsville, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of armed bank robbery, and four counts of use and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent felony.
“CROWN ROYAL BANDIT” BAGGED Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 15, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - BRIAN RICHARDSON, 45, originally of Huntsville, Alabama, and a federal inmate, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of premeditated murder of another inmate at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta.
FEDERAL INMATE INDICTED FOR MURDER Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 11, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - The United States Attorney’s Office today announced that more tax-related fraud cases are being pursued by IRS investigators and federal prosecutors, and three more tax-related cases were indicted within the past few days by a federal grand jury as the tax filing deadline approaches.
AS APRIL 15 TAX DEADLINE APPROACHES, MORE FEDERAL PROSECUTIONS SEND MESSAGE THAT TAX FRAUD CAN MEAN PRISON TIME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 2, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - AL AMIN PATNI, 47, of Marietta, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of misuse of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, and illegal reentry.
FIRST CASE PROSECUTED UNDER NEW IDENTITY THEFT INITIATIVE Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Apr 1, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Former professional wrestler HARRISON NORRIS, Jr., 42, a/k/a "Hardbody Harrison," of Cartersville, Georgia, was sentenced today to life in prison for committing multiple violations of federal sex trafficking and forced labor statutes in connection with a scheme to force women into prostitution.
 FORMER WRESTLER SENTENCED TO LIFE ON FEDERAL SEX TRAFFICKING & FORCED LABOR CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
March 2008
Mar 27, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - A news conference this morning marked the first anniversary of the David G. Wilhelm OCDETF Strike Force, a special cooperative drug task force based in metro Atlanta that is named after the slain U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Special Agent In Charge.
“DAVID G. WILHELM OCDETF STRIKE FORCE”
ANNOUNCES RESULTS FROM ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATIONS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 27, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - CLIFFORD J. HARRIS, JR., an entertainer also known as "T.I.," 27, of College Park, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, unlawful possession of machine guns, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
ENTERTAINER CLIFFORD HARRIS, a/k/a “T.I.,” PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL FIREARMS CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 24, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Atlanta Police Officer WILBERT STALLINGS, 44, of Conyers, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to conspiring to violate civil rights by executing a search of a private residence without benefit of a search warrant. Late this afternoon, STALLINGS was expected to be released on $25,000 bond set by a United States Magistrate Judge.
ATLANTA POLICE OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY
TO CIVIL RIGHTS CONSPIRACY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 20, 2008
GAINESVILLE, GA - ROBERT MERICKLE, 59, of Dawsonville, Georgia was sentenced today in federal court on a charge of filing a false tax return in 2001, which failed to report substantial amounts of income from a company he owned and operated, “East Coast Marketing,” d/b/a “Blue Haven Pools.”
DAWSONVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 20, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - TRAVIS E. CORRELL, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to federal prison today by United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans on a charge of wire fraud related to a so-called “Ponzi” scheme.
ATLANTA MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON IN $29 MILLION “PONZI” SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 20, 2008
GAINESVILLE, GA - KEVIN FELTS, 60, of Brazoria, Texas, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge William C. O’Kelley on money laundering and weapon charges related to a multi-state drug operation.
TEXAS MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 17 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ROLE IN MONEY LAUNDERING CONSPIRACY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 20, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - DONALD FRANK SMITH, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Beverly B. Martin on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, related to an incident in which an Atlanta Police Department Officer was assaulted.
FELON WHO ASSAULTED ATLANTA POLICE OFFICER WITH GUN GETS 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 18, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - WALTER RONNIE ("Ron") SAILOR, JR., 33, of Norcross, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to a felony criminal information charging him with laundering and attempting to launder what he believed to be drug proceeds, after taking possession and agreeing to launder a total of approximately $375,000 of cash from the purported sale of cocaine.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE RON SAILOR JR. PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL DRUG MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGE Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 17, 2008
GAINESVILLE, GA - MAYKIE BLEVINS, 29, and her mother, MOLLY A. SMITH, 50, both of Lula, Georgia, have pleaded guilty in federal district court to tax-related fraud charges.
DAUGHTER & MOTHER PLEAD GUILTY TO FRAUD CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 13, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - CEDRIC JACKSON, 41, of Atlanta, Georgia and AIMEE ALLEN, 37, formerly of Cartersville, Georgia, and now of Clarence, New York, were sentenced today by United States District Judge Jack T. Camp on charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, related to a sex trafficking organization led by former professional wrestler “Hardbody” HARRISON NORRIS. MICHELLE ACHUFF, 25, of Lafayette, Tennessee, and LESLIE SMITH, 22, of Macon, Georgia, were also sentenced today for making false statements to FBI agents regarding NORRIS’ criminal activities.
DEFENDANTS SENTENCED FOR ROLES IN FORMER WRESTLER’S SEX TRAFFICKING RING Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 13, 2008
ATLANTA, GA – GILBERTO PEREZ-BANUCHI, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Richard Story on a charge of making false statements to a federal agency, relating to a Drug Enforcement Agency drug investigation.
ATLANTA MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENT TO DEA Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 12, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - GREGORY CAMPION, 46, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to failing to report more than $200,000 in cash income he obtained in 2004, while serving as a Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Atlanta, Georgia.
FORMER DEA SPECIAL AGENT PLEADS GUILTY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 12, 2008
ROME, GA - BARRY WALLACE, 40, of Cedartown, Georgia pleaded guilty today in federal district court to stealing firearms while employed as a Captain by the Polk County Police Department.
FORMER POLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSING STOLEN FIREARMS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 10, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Sentencing hearings for 11 key defendants were completed today in the $2.8 million “Xquisite Empire” car loan fraud ring based in Atlanta.
INSIDERS SENTENCED IN $2.8 MILLION “XQUISITE EMPIRE” FRAUD RING Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 7, 2008
ROME, GA - CARLOS URIOSTIGUI, 19 ; RODOLFO CHAVEZ MASCOTE, 25; DANIEL CAMPOS, JR., 21; and JOSHUA PAUL SMITH, 27, all of Cedartown, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to charges involving drug trafficking, firearms, and carjacking crimes in the Cedartown area in July 2007.
FOUR PLEAD GUILTY TO SHOOTING AND CARJACKING RELATED TO DRUG TRAFFICKING Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 7, 2008
ROME, GA - Former Polk County Police Department Chief WILLIAM “Billy” WILLS, JR., 48, pleaded guilty today to making false statements to federal law enforcement officers in connection with an investigation involving firearms stolen from the Police Department.
FORMER POLK COUNTY POLICE CHIEF PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 4, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - DONNA RENEE GAMBLE, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges arising out of a scheme to defraud the Georgia Institute of Technology ("Georgia Tech") and the National Science Foundation (“NSF”), an agency of the United States Government.
FORMER GEORGIA TECH EMPLOYEE INDICTED
IN “P-CARD” SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mar 3, 2008
ROME, GA - Former Rockmart Police Officer CAREY HIGGINS, 29, of Cartersville, Georgia, pleaded guilty today to a charge of making materially false statements to federal authorities and the FBI in connection with the submission of false fingerprints to the Rockmart Police Department by his co-defendant Jedson Leist, a convicted felon.
FORMER CITY OF ROCKMART POLICE OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY IN FAKE FINGERPRINT SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
February 2008
Feb 29, 2008
ROME, GA - KARY DEAN HEAD, 50, of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy on a wire fraud charge arising from a scheme to defraud bidders on eBay, the Internet auction service, of over $150,000.
FORT OGLETHORPE MAN SENTENCED FOR INTERNET FRAUD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 28, 2008
ROME, GA - JEDSON EDWARD LEIST, 36, of Acworth, Georgia, was sentenced this morning to 20 years in federal prison by United States District Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr., for crimes including false statements; wire and mail fraud; possession of a firearm by a felon and by a domestic violence misdemeanant; and a mail and wire fraud scheme involving the use of fake fingerprints.
FORMER CITY OF ROCKMART POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 27, 2008
ROME, GA - BRENTON JAMES GARMON, 36, of Cartersville, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to embezzling approximately $80,493 in public funds that were under the care and control of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office while GARMON worked there as a Captain.
FORMER CAPTAIN WITH BARTOW COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PLEADS GUILTY TO EMBEZZLING FUNDS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 26, 2008
NEWNAN, GA - DERYL PARKER, 44, of Newnan, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jack T. Camp on a charge of transporting hazardous waste material without proper documentation, in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
NEWNAN MAN SENTENCED TO OVER A YEAR IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 25, 2008
ROME, GA - Five defendants were convicted today by a jury in federal district court of criminal charges that include racketeering, murder, attempted murder, assault, methamphetamine trafficking, and numerous related firearms offenses.
FIVE DEFENDANTS FROM NORTHEAST GEORGIA DRUG GANG CONVICTED OF RACKETEERING, MURDER, DRUG, AND FIREARMS CRIMES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 22, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Thirteen high-ranking members of the “Sur-13” street gang in the metro Atlanta area were sentenced to federal prison this week by United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr., for crimes including murder, drive-by shootings, armed robberies, carjacking, and drug dealing. Four of the defendants were sentenced to life without parole for murder.
THIRTEEN MEMBERS OF “SUR-13" GANG SENTENCED TO PRISON Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 22, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Following a five day trial, a jury in federal district court returned a guilty verdict late yesterday against ANTHONY G. CHRISTOU, 57, of Dunwoody, Georgia, on charges of wire fraud and money laundering relating to an investment fraud scheme.
JURY CONVICTS GEORGIA MAN IN $29 MILLION INVESTMENT FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 21, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - CHIEN DINH NGUYEN, 34, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and NGUYEN VAN NGUYEN, 34, of Randolph, Massachusetts, were sentenced to federal prison today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash.
GUN TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 19, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - LESLIE ADGAR, 42, of Decatur, Georgia, ANDRE MAYS, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, and JON PATTON, 44, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, were indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges relating to a drug-smuggling operation at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (“HJIA”).
TSA AND DELTA EMPLOYEES INDICTED IN DRUG SMUGGLING STING AT HARTSFIELD JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 14, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - LESLIE RECTOR, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to federal prison today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. for his participation in a massive mortgage fraud scheme that targeted the Atlanta metro housing and condo market from 2000 through part of 2003.
SECOND-IN-COMMAND IN MASSIVE PHILLIP HILL MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 14, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - RICARDO QUINONES CRUZ, 33, ENRIQUE CRISTOBAL MARTINEZ, 35, IVAN RAUL GARCIA, 37, MANUEL DOZANO ORTIZ, 28, and, ARMANDO NUNEZ-BRISENO, 38, all of Cobb County, Georgia, were sentenced late yesterday by United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans on charges of conspiring to possess and transfer fraudulent identification documents, including Social Security cards, immigration documents, state driver’s licenses and identification cards.
FIVE DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR MANUFACTURING FAKE DOCUMENTS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 12, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - RICHARD E. LONG, 63, and DEBRA L. LONG, 44, both of St. Augustine, Florida, and MACK S. SMITH, 56, of Bladenboro, North Carolina, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy, bribery of a public official, wire fraud, and money laundering.
FORMER ARMY OFFICIAL, HIS WIFE, AND A BUSINESSMAN INDICTED ON BRIBERY CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 12, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Following a two-week trial, a jury in federal district court returned guilty verdicts late yesterday against KEITH GARNER, 48, GREGG SAVAGE, 24, SHALONDA HARRIS, 36, all of Atlanta, Georgia, and LATESHA GARNER, 27, of Durham, North Carolina, on charges of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud and wire fraud related to $6 million in fraudulent real estate financing from SunTrust Mortgage Company ("SunTrust Mortgage") over a ten week period in the summer of 2006.
JURY CONVICTS MORTGAGE FRAUD RING Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 12, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - DAVID ANTHONY FLOOD, 32, of Atlanta, Georgia was sentenced to federal prison late yesterday on a charge of using a telephone to willfully and maliciously convey false information concerning an alleged attempt to damage and destroy buildings and to injure and kill people at the Richard Russell Federal Building at 75 Spring Street and the Woodruff Arts Center, located at 1280 Peachtree Street, both in Atlanta.
MAN WHO MADE FALSE BOMB THREAT TO COURTHOUSE, WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER NOW GOES TO PRISON Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 11, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - JASON SLAUGHTER, 43, of McDonough, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy Batten to serve 10 years in prison for defrauding Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T) of approximately $6 million.
FORMER “BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR” SENTENCED FOR FRAUD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Feb 1, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - RAYMOND JOSEPH COSTANZO, Jr., 63, of Clayton, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Beverly B. Martin on charges of bank fraud and conspiracy related to a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme.
CLOSING ATTORNEY SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR MORTGAGE FRAUD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
January 2008
Jan 30, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - SANDEO PABLO DYSON, 44, of Gainesville, Georgia, has been charged in a criminal complaint with arson and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
FIFTH SOLDIER FROM NORTH GEORGIA ARRESTED Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 30, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - DOUGLAS YUTAKA RHOADES, 42, a security guard from Jonesboro, Georgia, has been charged in a criminal complaint with possession of child pornography and impersonation of a federal agent.
SECURITY GUARD CHARGED WITH POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND IMPERSONATING AN FBI AGENT INVESTIGATING CHILD EXPLOITATION Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 29, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - RONALD AUBERY NELSON, 60, of Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to using the internet to entice a child to engage in sexual activity.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD ENTICEMENT Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 28, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - ALLEN L. SOUTHMAYD, 63, of Jonesboro, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge J. Owen Forrester on a charge of interstate transportation of stolen monies.
ARMY HANDWRITING EXPERT SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 25, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - CARLOS LOPEZ, 30, DAVID RAY WHITE, 28, RANDY SPIVEY, 32, all active-duty Army Rangers, and STEFAN ANDRE CHAMPAGNE, 28, an Army medic, all stationed at Camp Frank D. Merrill, a United States Army Ranger mountain training facility in Dahlonega, Georgia, have been charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and using firearms in connection with that conspiracy.
THREE ARMY RANGERS, ONE OTHER SOLDIER ARRESTED FOR CONSPIRING TO ROB DRUG TRAFFICKER Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 24, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - JIMMIE LEE JONES, also known as "Mike Spade," 32, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced today to serve 15 years in federal prison on charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking and transporting young women across state lines for purposes of prostitution.
STONE MOUNTAIN MAN SENTENCED ON FEDERAL SEX TRAFFICKING AND INTERSTATE PROSTITUTION CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 24, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - Atlanta Police Officer DANIEL BETTS, 26, of Rockmart, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to taking payoffs to perform his normal duties as a police officer while on duty.
ATLANTA POLICE OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO TAKING PAYOFFS TO PERFORM OFFICAL DUTIES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 24, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - TOTADA R. SHANTHAVEERAPPA, M.D., a/k/a "T.R. Shantha, M.D.," 73, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard W. Story on charges of health care fraud.
LOCAL DOCTOR SENTENCED IN HEALTH CARE FRAUD SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 18, 2008
ATLANTA, GA – After a 5-day trial, CHARDRIQUEZ ANTUAN DURDEN, 24, of Lithonia, Georgia, was convicted by a federal jury this afternoon on charges of assaulting seven federal agents; discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack); possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and aiding and abetting the making of false statements to a federally licensed gun dealer.
ARMED DRUG DEALER WHO FIRED AT ATF AGENTS CONVICTED BY JURY ON MULTIPLE CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 17, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - MICHAEL DISCH, 38, originally from Wheaton, Illinois, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard Story on charges of mailing a threatening communication to a federal judge and making false statements to federal officials regarding a threatening communication to another federal judge.
INMATE SENTENCED TO 15 ADDITIONAL YEARS FOR MAILING THREATS TO FEDERAL JUDGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 17, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - After a six-day trial, a federal jury late yesterday returned guilty verdicts against ONESSIMUS M. GOVEREH, also known as “Tony Govereh,” 28, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, on charges of willfully filing false personal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.
GUILTY VERDICT IN TAX FRAUD TRIAL Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 16, 2008
ATLANTA, GA -AARINTON GRIFFIN, a/k/a “Saint,” 18, of Alpharetta, Georgia, made his first appearance before a federal magistrate today on a federal indictment charging him with possession of an unregistered machine gun and possession of stolen firearms. GRIFFIN was indicted by a grand jury on January 9, 2007.
SO-CALLED “G-SQUAD” MEMBER MAKES APPEARANCE AFTER INDICTMENT FOR STEALING POLICE WEAPONS
Jan 14, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - A jury in federal district court has returned guilty verdicts against JESUS HECTOR FLORES, 38, of Laredo, Texas, and JOE LOUIS LOPEZ, 40, of Dallas, Texas.
GUILTY VERDICTS IN MEXICAN COCAINE CARTEL TRIAL Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 11, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - DARRYL L. COOPER, 27, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., for a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders by creating fraudulent appraisals that reflected completed construction.
APPRAISER SENTENCED TO PRISON IN MORTGAGE FRAUD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 10, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - WILLIAM BRYANT, 38, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash on a charge of hacking-knowingly causing the transmission of information to a computer used in interstate commerce, and, as a result, intentionally and without authorization causing damage to that computer.
NORCROSS MAN SENTENCED FOR HACKING COX COMMUNICATIONS’ COMPUTER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 3, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - GILBERTO PEREZ-BANUCHI, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, today pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Richard Story to a charge of making false statements to a federal agency, relating to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation.
INFORMANT PLEADS GUILTY TO LYING TO DEA Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Jan 3, 2008
ATLANTA, GA - ALFREDO SANTIAGO MORENO, also known as "CHAGO," 35, of Tepalcatepec, Mexico, was sentenced to life in prison by U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper today on charges related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine and operation of the meth “Superlab” that DEA seized and dismantled in a residential neighborhood in Smyrna, Georgia, in February 2005.
METHAMPHETAMINE “SUPERLAB” DEFENDANT GETS LIFE IN PRISON Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
December 2007
Dec 21, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - Saint Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta, Inc. and Saint Joseph’s Health System, Inc. have agreed to pay $26 million to settle allegations raised in a so-called “whistleblower” lawsuit that the hospital violated the federal False Claims Act with regard to billing for inpatient admissions and other services.
SAINT JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL OF ATLANTA PAYS $26 MILLION TO SETTLE FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 20, 2007
GAINESVILLE, GA - A criminal information was filed today in federal district court against ROBERT MERICKLE, 59, of Dawsonville, Georgia. The information charges that ROBERT MERICKLE filed a false tax return in 2001, which failed to report substantial amounts of income from a company he owned and operated, East Coast Marketing, d/b/a Blue Haven Pools.
DAWSONVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH TAX FRAUD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 20, 2007
ROME, GA - MARIO ARMAS, a/k/a “Mario Doninelli,” 45, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced today on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and money laundering relating to a violent drug operation in Northwest Georgia.
ROME BUSINESSMAN, CO-CONSPIRATOR SENTENCED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING & MONEY LAUNDERING Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 19, 2007
ROME, GA - WILLIAM “Billy” WILLS, JR., 48, the Chief of the Polk County Police Department, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possessing stolen firearms and making false statements to federal law enforcement agents.
POLK COUNTY POLICE CHIEF CHARGED WITH POSSESSING FIREARMS STOLEN FROM THE COUNTY & MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS TO FEDERAL AGENTS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 19, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - JOSEPH MICHAEL MOONEY, 57, of Farmington, Missouri, was sentenced to 30 years in prison today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., on charges of attempting to entice a child to engage in unlawful sexual activity and crossing a state line with the intent to have sex with a child under the age of 12.
MISSOURI MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR TRAVELING TO GEORGIA TO TRY TO HAVE SEX WITH A 10-YEAR-OLD CHILD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 18, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - ANTHONY M. RAMUNNO, a/k/a Mick Ramunno, 47, of Alpharetta, Georgia was sentenced today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. in a multi-million dollar investment fraud scheme that bilked dozens of investors around the United States.
COMMODITY FUTURES SCAM LEADER SENTENCED TO ALMOST 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DEFRAUDING INVESTORS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 14, 2007
GAINESVILLE, GA - RANDALL LANE SCOTT, 49, of Sugar Hill, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William C. O’Kelley on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and storing chemicals and equipment for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine.
MAJOR MANUFACTURER OF METHAMPHETAMINE SENTENCED Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 14, 2007
ROME, GA - BARRY WALLACE, 40, of Cedartown, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of stealing firearms while employed as a captain by the Polk County Police Department.
FORMER POLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING STOLEN FIREARMS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 13, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - EMMA GERALD, 56, of Kennesaw, Georgia, RUY BRASIL SILVA, 46, of Roswell, Georgia, DOUGLAS ROSS, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia, and HUDSON ARAUJO, 28, of Brockton, Massachusetts, were convicted today by a federal jury on charges of conspiracy, money laundering and making false statements related to a fraud scheme targeting illegal aliens, after a trial which lasted 11 days.
GERALD, OTHERS CONVICTED ON ALL COUNTS BY FEDERAL JURY IN MULTI-STATE AMNESTY FRAUD CONSPIRACY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 12, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - STEVE KIM, 39, of Duluth, Georgia, MUZA KIM, 68, of Duluth, Georgia, and their company “STAR GRAPHICS, Inc.,” were sentenced today by United States District Judge Orinda Evans on charges of manufacturing counterfeit clothing.
SON AND FATHER SENTENCED FOR MANUFACTURING COUNTERFEIT “FAT ALBERT” CLOTHING Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 12, 2007
ATLANTA, GA – TOROS SEHER, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Timothy C. Batten on charges related to a scheme to launder drug money.
LOCAL JEWELER AND CORPORATIONS SENTENCED FOR LAUNDERING DRUG MONEY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 07, 2007
ATLANTA, GA – Federal, state and local agents have completed the initial searches and arrests in two multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency investigations coordinated through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program.
DOZENS OF FEDERAL ARREST & SEARCH WARRANTS EXECUTED AROUND ATLANTA AREA IN TAKEDOWN OF TWO MAJOR DRUG ORGANIZATIONS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 04, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - DON MITCHELL, 56, of Atlanta, Georgia, a former Fulton County, Georgia, erosion control inspector, was sentenced today to ten months in prison in federal district court for soliciting and taking cash and other bribes from a contractor whose work MITCHELL was inspecting for the County.
FORMER FULTON COUNTY INSPECTOR SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR SOLICITING AND TAKING BRIBES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dec 03, 2007
GAINESVILLE, GA - KEVIN FELTS, 59, of Brazoria, Texas, was convicted today by a federal jury on money laundering and weapon charges related to a large scale cocaine distribution ring.
FEDERAL JURY IN GAINESVILLE FINDS TEXAS MAN GUILTY FOR ROLE IN MONEY-LAUNDERING CONSPIRACY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
November 2007
Nov 30, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - TRAVIS E. CORRELL, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans to a federal wire fraud charge related to a so-called “Ponzi” scheme.
ATLANTA MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN $29 MILLION “PONZI” SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 29, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - TERRILL MARION CRANE, 47, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested by the FBI’s Safe Child Task Force this afternoon on a federal charge of producing child pornography relating to photographs that depict his explicit sexual activity with numerous young girls in the Simpson Road area of Atlanta.
TERRILL MARION CRANE ARRESTED FOR PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVOLVING HIS ALLEGED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF NUMEROUS YOUNG GIRLS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 28, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - United States Attorney David E. Nahmias today announced that, during the government’s fiscal year 2007 that ended on September 30, 2007, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia collected $71.7 million from individuals and businesses that committed federal crimes or are civilly indebted to the United States and who reside and conduct business in the District.
U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE COLLECTS MORE THAN $70 MILLION FROM CRIMINAL AND CIVIL ACTIONS IN FISCAL YEAR 2007 Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 21, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - A federal jury returned guilty verdicts today against former professional wrestler HARRISON NORRIS, Jr., 41, a/k/a “Hardbody Harrison,” from Cartersville, Georgia, on multiple charges of sex trafficking and forced labor related to a scheme to force women into prostitution.
FORMER WRESTLER FOUND GUILTY BY FEDERAL JURY ON FEDERAL SEX TRAFFICKING AND FORCED LABOR CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 20, 2007
NEWNAN, GA - DERYL PARKER, 44, of Newnan, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to transporting hazardous waste without proper documentation, in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
NEWNAN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 20, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - ERIC FRIEDMAN, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, BRIANNE FRIEDMAN, 28, of Tucker, Georgia, and TIMOTHY BAUER, 51, of Braselton, Georgia were sentenced today by United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans. Last Friday, November 16, 2007, Judge Evans also sentenced co-defendant and former attorney MICHAEL HIPE, 43, of Cumming, Georgia.
MORTGAGE FRAUD DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO PRISON Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 16, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - MATTHEW BEVAN COX, 38, formerly of Nashville, Atlanta, and Tampa, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., on charges of mortgage fraud, identity theft, passport fraud and violation of the terms of his probation.
MATTHEW COX SENTENCED TO OVER 26 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATLANTA, NASHVILLE, AND TAMPA MORTGAGE FRAUDS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 15, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - STEVEN J. GONKA, 37, of Hampton, Virginia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell to over 11 years in federal prison on the charge of using the internet to attempt to entice a child to engage in sexual activity.
VIRGINIA MAN SENTENCED FOR TRYING TO ENTICE A CHILD IN ATLANTA; COOPERATION LEADS TO OTHER ARRESTS IN MISSOURI AND VIRGINIA Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 15, 2007
ROME, GA - After a six-day trial, a federal jury today returned guilty verdicts against former Rockmart Police Officer JEDSON LEIST, 36, and his wife INGRID ARNETH, 46, both of Acworth, Georgia.
FORMER CITY OF ROCKMART POLICE OFFICER, WIFE, FOUND GUILTY IN GUN POSSESSION AND FAKE FINGERPRINT SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 09, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - DONNA WRIGHT HODGE, 52, of Riverdale, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns.
RIVERDALE WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PREPARING FALSE INCOME TAX RETURNS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Nov 08, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - TODD RICHARD, 33, of Cumming, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to trafficking in counterfeit products.
CUMMING MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SELLING COUNTERFEIT CISCO COMPUTER COMPONENTS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
October 2007
Oct 31, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - STEVEN HOLLANDER, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, and JULIO
JEVELES, 29, of Miami, Florida, were sentenced today for their roles in a prescription drug distribution ring operating in Atlanta and Miami.
ATLANTA PODIATRIST& MIAMI MAN SENTENCED IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG DIVERSION SCHEME Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 30, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - SHERRY JACKSON, 45, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was found guilty this afternoon by a federal jury on multiple charges relating to her failure to file income tax returns in violation of federal law.
FORMER I-R-S EMPLOYEE FOUND GUILTY BY JURY FOR FAILURE TO FILE INCOME TAX RETURNS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 26, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - JEFFERY ALAN TEAGUE, a/k/a “Jeffrey Allen Bryant,” 49, of Atlanta, Georgia and formerly of Montgomery and Prince Georges County, Maryland, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., on charges relating to two builder-based mortgage fraud schemes involving $15 million in fraudulent loans.
TEAGUE SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON
FOR SALE OF NON-EXISTENT/PARTIAL HOUSES IN TWO COUNTIES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 25, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - After a trial lasting more than two weeks, a jury in federal district court returned guilty verdicts late this afternoon against FREDDIE SANDOVAL, 23, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, ANGEL MAZARIEGOS, 24, of Doraville, Georgia, and LUIS ALBERTO NANDY, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, on federal charges relating to their violent criminal activity as members of a street gang known as Sureños-13,” or “SUR-13.”
THREE MORE “SUR-13” GANG MEMBERS CONVICTED Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 19, 2007
WASHINGTON D.C. – Five employees of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia have received Justice Department Director’s Awards.
ATLANTA U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE EMPLOYEES RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARDS Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 18, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - DANTE M. SUGUITAN, 39, of San Jose, California, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to charges of making telephonic bomb threats.
CALIFORNIA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING BOMB THREATS TO TURNER FIELD Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 17, 2007
GAINESVILLE, GA - BRETT JARRARD, 46, of Clayton, Georgia today pleaded guilty to six counts of unlawfully manufacturing and transferring distilled liquor and failing to pay taxes on such an operation and to one count of unlawful receipt of untaxed liquor.
PAIR OF ILLEGAL LIQUOR PRODUCERS PLEAD GUILTY Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 17, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - CLIFFORD HARRIS, 27, an entertainer also known as T.I., of College Park, Georgia, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on charges of possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers; unlawfully possessing machine guns; and of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.
HARRIS INDICTED ON FEDERAL FIREARMS CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 17, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - KEVIN G. WIGGINS, 41, of Ellenwood, Georgia pleaded guilty today in federal district court to charges related to a large-scale mortgage fraud scheme that targeted West End neighborhoods in Atlanta in 2001 and 2002.
ORGANIZER PLEADS GUILTY IN $15 MILLION MORTGAGE FRAUD AFFECTING 80 PROPERTIES IN ATLANTA’S WEST END Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
Oct 15, 2007
ATLANTA, GA - CLIFFORD HARRIS, 27, an entertainer also known as "T.I.," of College Park, Georgia, was arrested in Atlanta at approximately 2:30 p.m. today by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), as he allegedly took possession of three machine guns and two silencers.
CLIFFORD HARRIS, a/k/a “T.I.,” ARRESTED ON FEDERAL FIREARMS CHARGES Viewing Notice: Portable Document Format (".PDF") files may be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader