Waynesboro Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Receiving Child Pornography

Edward J. Tarver, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that Roger Alan Gambrel, convicted on June 5, 2009, of the federal offense of Receipt of Child Pornography, was sentenced December 2 by United States District Judge J. Randal Hall, to 240 months imprisonment, followed by supervised release for the remainder of his life. Gambrel will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison.

Tarver stated that the evidence presented at the defendant’s guilty plea and sentencing hearings showed that Gambrel routinely engaged in sexually suggestive online “chats” with others about the child pornography images being traded during those communications. When his computer and other computer media were seized from Gambrel, he was found in possession of over 2,000 child pornography images.

The case was the result of a joint investigation by Special Agent Brian Ozden of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Agent Charles Kicklighter of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, based upon information they received from FBI agents in California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Greenwood represented the Government.

Tarver commented that this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Perry Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Illegal Drugs, Attempting to Influence a Juror

G.F. “Pete” Peterman, III, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces the conviction in the United States District Court in Macon of WENDELL DOUGLAS WALKER age 39 of Perry, Georgia. Walker entered a plea of guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine) and one count of Endeavoring to Influence a Juror on December 3, 2009, before the Honorable C. Ashley Royal, Chief United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia. The charge of Endeavoring to Influence a Juror resulted from Walker’s contact with and efforts to corruptly influence a trial juror selected in May, 2009, to try the crack cocaine charge against him.

Walker admitted to selling a confidential informant more than 50 grams of crack cocaine in November, 2007. He further admitted that he had a relative contact the trial juror, who was asked to call a cellular telephone number because someone wanted to speak with her. When the juror called that number, Walker answered, identified himself and asked to meet with the juror, who then hung up on him. Walker admitted that he made the contact in an effort to wrongfully and corruptly influence the juror in exercising her duties as a juror at his trial.

Walker faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison on the Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base count and up to an additional 10 years in prison for Endeavoring to Influence a Juror.

Acting United States Attorney Peterman said that trafficking illegal drugs is a crime whose prosecution is a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office, adding that, “with regard to the jury influencing charge, attempts to corrupt the jury trial process, which is the very heart of this country’s criminal justice system, will always be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible by this office.”

The crack cocaine case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Perry Police Department. The case of juror influencing was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Macon. Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. McCullers prosecuted the case for the government. For additional information contact Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, at 478-621-2602.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Former Senior Manager Pleads Guilty to Stealing The Home Depot’s Trade Secrets

GUILLERMO MARTINEZ, 47, of Cumming, Georgia, pleaded guilty December 2 in federal district court to a Criminal Information that charged him with stealing trade secrets from his former employer, The Home Depot.

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said, “Intellectual property-related cases are serious criminal cases with high dollar stakes. The FBI understands the corporate concerns and the potential damages caused by such thefts and considers itself well suited to investigate and enforce these laws.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates and the information in court: MARTINEZ was employed at The Home Depot’s headquarters as a Senior Manager, Product Engineering, and was responsible for assisting the company's vendors in preparing to sell products to the company. As a Senior Manager, MARTINEZ had access to the Home Depot’s confidential information and other trade secrets, including pricing and profitability spread sheets and documents relating to product line reviews.

The evidence showed that beginning in January 2008, MARTINEZ was assigned to assist a potential local vendor of The Home Depot. The vendor was subsequently invited by The Home Depot to participate in a product line review. A product line review involves potential vendors making presentations of their products, their packaging and their marketing ideas. It also involves the submission of the potential vendors’ prices. The Home Depot makes its buying decisions for a particular product line based on the product line review presentations of its various vendors.

From around May 2008 and continuing until around July 2008, MARTINEZ began supervising the local vendor’s presentation to The Home Depot as if he were a high-level employee of the vendor. In an effort to have the vendor gain an advantage over its competitors during the product line review, MARTINEZ provided the vendor with trade secrets belonging to the Company. Specifically MARTINEZ gave out confidential and proprietary pricing information, including the price that the Company was paying the vendor's competitors for the products that the vendor wanted to sell to the Company. MARTINEZ provided a document titled “Wire Devices: RFP Summary,” which was marked at the bottom as “Proprietary & Confidential to The Home Depot,” and which contained a summary of the vendor's line review of competitor's price quotes. MARTINEZ also provided a binder containing the line review presentation submitted to the Company by a competitor of the vendor. In addition, during this same time, MARTINEZ was negotiating an employment agreement with the vendor.

The Home Depot fully cooperated in the investigation of this case.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 3, 2010, at 10 a.m, before United States District Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Former Public Works Director for Harlem, Georgia Sentenced to Prison for Clean Water Act Violations

Edward J. Tarver, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that Daniel Webster Cason, the former Public Works Director for the City of Harlem, Georgia who was responsible for the operation of that city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, was sentenced today (December 1) by United States District Court Judge J. Randal Hall to imprisonment for 12 months and a day on his convictions for violations of the Clean Water Act. On March 31, 2009, Cason entered guilty pleas to three counts of making false statements in records and reports regarding the Treatment Plant’s measurements of fecal coliform and biochemical oxygen demand in violation of Title 33, United States Code, Section 1319(c)(4).

During today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Hall also determined that the defendant knowingly caused pumping with a portable pump from the Treatment Plant into the Uchee Creek tributary located adjacent to the Treatment Plant, without a permit to do so. Judge Hall ruled that this conduct resulted in an ongoing, continuous, or repetitive discharge, release, or emission of a pollutant into the environment.

Tarver noted that, in addition to imprisonment, Cason will be required to pay a $3,000 fine and a special assessment of $300. After his release from prison, the defendant will serve a year of supervised release during which he must complete 100 hours of community service.

Tarver stated that “the investigation of the City of Harlem, Georgia’s Wastewater Treatment Plant and this prosecution demonstrate that the United States Attorney’s Office will remain committed to the Clean Water Act’s goal of restoring and maintaining the quality of the Nation's waters.” Similarly, Maureen O'Mara, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal enforcement program in Atlanta, said that “today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who commit environmental crimes will be prosecuted.”

Tarver praised the work of EPA Special Agent Charles Carfagno, who was assisted by FBI Special Agent Paul Kubala, in the investigation which led to this indictment and the efforts of Assistant United States Attorneys David M. Stewart and Carlton Bourne, Jr. who represented the government in this prosecution.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Bank of America Robbery (Fayetteville)

A Robbery occurred at Bank of America located at 219 Banks Road, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214.

At approximately 12:34 PM a man entered the bank and handed the teller a note indicating he was robbing the bank. The man also indicated that he had a gun.

He is described as a black male, about 5’-8”, 175 pounds. He was wearing an orange “South Pole” sweatshirt with gray sleeves and a dark colored baseball hat. He has a narrow face and a goatee.
He was last seen running from the bank.

He stole an undisclosed amount of money.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Fayetteville Police Department, Criminal Investigation Unit at 770-461-4441.

Robbery of the Wachovia Bank in Norcross, Georgia

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, along with the Gwinnett County Police Department, is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a serial bank robber who robbed the Wachovia Bank, Holcomb Corners, Norcross, Georgia, November 27.

On Friday, November 27, 2009, at approximately 12:42 p.m., a lone black male, wearing a black motorcycle helmet, leather jacket, and a police badge around his neck, entered the Wachovia Bank, Holcomb Corners, Norcross, Georgia, and verbally announced a bank robbery to a bank teller while threatening a weapon. The robber departed the bank without incident, having obtained an undisclosed amount of money.

The robber was described as being a light skinned black male, late thirties in age, 5’8”-5’10” in height, approximately 175 lbs., wearing a black motorcycle helmet, dark sunglasses, black leather jacket, a black shirt with white letters possibly with “Police” on front, wearing a silver law enforcement badge around his neck.

The above robber is possibly injured from an exploding dye pack. He is also believed to be responsible for a similar bank robbery in Sandy Springs, Georgia last month and was observed departing in a black two door Infiniti at that robbery.

Anyone with information regarding these robberies is asked to contact the Atlanta office FBI at tel. (404) 679-9000.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Seeking Information on Savannah Bank Robbery

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, along with the Savannah Chatham County Police Department, is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the individuals responsible for today’s (November 24) armed robbery of the following Savannah, Georgia bank:

On Tuesday, November 24, 2009, at approximately 9:00 a.m., three black males, all armed with and displaying handguns, entered the Wachovia Bank, located at 3507 West Bay Street, Savannah, Georgia. During the robbery, one of the robbers went behind the tell counter, taking money out of one of the teller stations and placing it in a black satchel that he had with him. The robbers departed the bank without further incident having obtained an undisclosed amount money. The robbers were seen getting into a late 1980’s model white Buick with a Georgia license plate and proceeding east on Bay Street.

The robbers were described as being black males, 25 years old or younger. Two of the robbers were 5’8”-5’9” in height, the third was 5’3”-5’5” in height. All were wearing blue zip up style jump suits, displaying handguns (possibly revolvers), and wearing gloves and masks.

Anyone with information regarding these robberies are asked to contact Savannah Crimestoppers at tel. (912) 234-2020 or the Savannah office of the FBI at (912) 232-3716.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page