Former DeKalb Police Lieutenant Indicted for Bribery

WILLIE DAREN DURRETT, 45, of Atlanta, was arraigned today (March 7) before United States Magistrate Judge C. Christopher Hagy. DURRETT faces federal charges of accepting bribes in return for taking official action as a sergeant, and later as a lieutenant, with the DeKalb County Police Department. Co-defendant DONALD E. FRANK, who was previously indicted for accepting bribes while he served as deputy chief of police for DeKalb County, is also named in the indictment and faces the same charges. AMIN BUDHWANI previously pleaded guilty to paying bribes to FRANK.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “Our community expects and deserves police officers who will serve the citizens and not sell their badge to someone holding out cash. In this case, the officer placed his personal and financial interests ahead of the public he was sworn to serve. Combatting public corruption will continue to be a top priority for this office.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated, “The FBI is fully prepared to undertake these types of public corruption investigations and fully understands the impact that these types of activities can have, if left unchecked, on the proper operation of a government or police agency. The public deserves better than the actions of this officer and is reminded that the FBI should be contacted with regard to any information involving police or government corruption.”

“I support the continued efforts of federal authorities to efface public corruption,” said DeKalb County Police Chief William O’Brien. “Willie Durrett resigned from the DeKalb County Police Department weeks before this indictment and prior to our agency having the opportunity to take disciplinary action. It is reprehensible that this former lieutenant chose to violate the law instead of upholding it. It is acts such as this that undermine law enforcement's efforts to maintain public trust.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: DURRETT accepted bribes from BUDHWANI on three separate occasions in 2007 and 2008. DURRETT resigned this past Monday.

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

DURRETT and FRANK were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 1, 2011. BUDHWANI was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 18, 2010, and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2010.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG @FayetteFP

Atlanta Man Faces Charges for Sex Trafficking Three Juveniles

DEMETRIUS DARNELL HOMER, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been arrested and was arraigned July 22 on federal charges of sex trafficking of three juveniles. HOMER was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2010. HOMER was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Gerrilyn Brill who ordered HOMER detained.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “This defendant allegedly recruited very young girls and turned them into prostitutes, robbing them of their youth, their dignity, and their freedom. Vigorously prosecuting those who exploit children and young women is a top priority for our office.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Lamkin said, “The FBI has responded to the serious problem of sex trafficking of juveniles by establishing a federally funded task force that understands the problem and, in turn, works with area law enforcement agencies in targeting predators that exploit juveniles by recruiting or forcing them into the world of prostitution. The FBI is proud of the role it plays in making the streets safer for its youth and encourages the public to contact the Atlanta office FBI with any information regarding such heinous activities as child prostitution.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: HOMER faces three counts of sex trafficking relating to three different juveniles, identified in court documents as under the age of 18. According to the indictment, from January 2009 through at least November 2009, HOMER recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, and maintained three different juvenile females for prostitution. In the case of one victim, HOMER is also charged with using force, fraud, and coercion to cause her to engage in prostitution.

Two of the charges carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and the third charge carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with all charges having a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

The government proffered evidence that he had assaulted at least one victim on multiple occasions in the past, and pulled a gun on another young woman with whom he was involved. The court noted HOMER’s history of violence, his extensive arrest and conviction record, the nature of the offenses charged and the possibility of violence against the victims if he was released in ordering HOMER detained without bond.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the FBI's Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force including Atlanta Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, City of Marietta Police Department, and Sandy Springs Police Department. If anyone has any information about human trafficking, they are encouraged to report the information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 404-679-9000.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Convicted Felon Indicted for Sex Trafficking of a Minor

CHESIRE MARTINEZ ROBINSON, a/k/a “Candyman,” 28, of Austell, Georgia, was arraigned today on federal charges of trafficking of a minor for sex; transporting a minor in interstate commerce for prostitution; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. ROBINSON, who is being held on unrelated state charges, was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Gerrilyn Brill and remains detained.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “The FBI and our other partner law enforcement agencies continue to see the brutal victimization of young girls by men who force them into prostitution, and use violence and intimidation to keep them there. We have charged a number of similar cases this year alone, and will continue to find and prosecute these predators who belong in a federal prison where there is no parole.”

FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricky Maxwell said, “Exploiting a minor child by forcing her into prostitution is a despicable act that cannot be tolerated. The FBI funds and operates a task force consisting of agents and officers from the surrounding area who are dedicated to combating child prostitution in the region by targeting those that exploit these minor children.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the indictment and information presented in court: In or about July 2009, and continuing through on or about October 2, 2009, ROBINSON allegedly caused the victim, a 16-year-old girl, to engage in prostitution at various hotels and at a truck stop, in the Atlanta area. ROBINSON brought the victim, who he knew to be a minor, from her home in South Carolina to the Atlanta area. He then placed photographs of the victim in escort and erotic services sections of various Internet websites, and used those ads to recruit men to engage in commercial sex acts with the victim. When the girl refused to engage in commercial sex acts, ROBINSON allegedly beat the victim on several occasions. During a search of ROBINSON’s apartment on October 2, 2009, investigators found a 9 mm pistol that belonged to ROBINSON, who had previously been convicted of the felony offense of armed robbery in Cobb County, Georgia.

The indictment charges ROBINSON with conspiracy; sex trafficking of a minor; transporting a minor in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to a combined, maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Former Investment Advisor Arraigned on Securities Fraud Charges

FREDERICK J. BARTON, 48, of Atlanta , Georgia , was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge C. Christopher Hagy on federal charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, and securities fraud. BARTON was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 2, 2008 .

“This indictment charges a former stockbroker and investment advisor with diverting client money to himself, including $1 million from an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease,” said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias. “Today’s arraignment marks the beginning of the process by which the defendant and his alleged frauds will be brought to the bar of justice.”

According to Nahmias and the documents and information presented in court: The 13-count indictment alleges that BARTON, a former investment manager, defrauded several clients and investors of approximately $3 million, including almost the entire life savings of an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. From at least 1995 through 2002, BARTON was a manager at an Atlanta branch of the national brokerage firm A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., based in St. Louis , Missouri . After he was terminated from A.G. Edwards in 2002, he began his own investment advisory firms, Barton Asset Management, LLC and Twinspan Capital, LLC, both based in Atlanta . The indictment alleges that on numerous occasions from at least 2001 through 2007 – before and after leaving A.G. Edwards – BARTON fraudulently diverted to himself client funds that he was entrusted with investing.

In particular, the indictment alleges that BARTON defrauded a 90-year old Alzheimer’s patient, identified in the indictment by her initials, RF. After having learned of RF’s diagnosis in 2001, BARTON allegedly fraudulently diverted over $1 million of RF’s assets to his own checking account, which he spent on personal lifestyle expenses and to fund the development of Twinspan Capital. As a result, the balance in RF’s investment and bank accounts fell from approximately $1.3 million in 1999 to less than $100 in 2004.

In addition to diverting client money from RF and others, the indictment alleges that BARTON committed securities fraud by selling shares in his new company, Twinspan, based on false pretenses. Specifically, he raised over $1 million in investments in Twinspan by claiming that he would use the proceeds to operate and grow the business. However, the indictment alleges that he instead diverted at least half of these supposed investments to himself, which he used to satisfy personal debts and pay personal lifestyle expenses.

On June 3, 2008 , the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil enforcement action against BARTON, alleging violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the securities laws, in U.S. District Court in Atlanta . That case is currently pending before U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Justin S. Anand is prosecuting the case.

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