Oxendine Busts Auto Insurance Fraud Ring in Savannah

Insurance Commissioner John W. Oxendine said a fraud ring operating in Savannah, Ga., collected nearly $95,000 from six insurance companies by staging accidents and filing bogus claims.

The alleged ringleader, Joseph T. Morris Jr., 29, was arrested today and charged with three counts of insurance fraud and two counts of making false statements. According to an investigation by Oxendine’s office, 16 claims filed by Morris involved vehicles he owned or previously owned and people he was already associated with. Title histories show Morris sold vehicles to other parties who were then involved in “accidents” that he filed claims on.

The companies that were defrauded include AIG/ 21st Century, Allstate, GMAC, Mercury Insurance, SafeCo and Traveler’s.

"Fraud like this causes everyone’s premiums to go up," Oxendine said. "Thanks to my investigators, we have taken these people off the streets."

Morris was already on federal probation.

Insurance fraud is a felony with a penalty of two to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

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Atlanta Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Sex Trafficking Scheme and Mann Act Charges

/PRNewswire/ -- Miguel Rugerio, 28, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty today in federal district court in Atlanta to charges of conspiracy to illegally transport young women from Mexico into the United States, and to harbor them, all for purposes of prostitution, and to engage in the sex trafficking of these victims. Rugerio also pleaded guilty to the substantive offense of transporting victim "N.M." in interstate and foreign commerce for purposes of prostitution.

"Mr. Rugerio pleaded guilty to crimes that robbed the victims not only of their freedom, but also of their dignity," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "We are committed to combating human trafficking and prosecuting those who sexually exploit vulnerable women for financial benefit."

Acting U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of today's plea, "Human traffickers trick, lie and coerce young women into this country with the promise that they will have their freedom, and work a legitimate job. Instead it is just the opposite: these young women are in essence held captive with almost no way out, and the so-called job they are forced to do demeans them. We will continue to find these traffickers and put them in federal prison, where there is no parole."

"This case is a perfect example of the outstanding cooperation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and our sister law enforcement agencies. Because of positive interagency cooperation, human trafficking and smuggling criminal organizations are discovering how difficult it is for them to hide their illegal activities from authorities," said Kenneth Smith, Special Agent in Charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Atlanta. "We are dedicated to identifying and dismantling these types of illicit operations wherever and whenever we find them."

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said, "As a direct result of this criminal investigation and recently passed human trafficking legislation in Mexico, Mexican law enforcement has, for the first time, been able to launch their own investigation in an effort to combat this crime problem. We would like to express our gratitude to the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta, Georgia for not only their assistance in this matter in general but specifically in assisting the victims that were being exploited by Mr. Rugerio."

According to Yates, the plea agreement, the indictment and information presented in court: Rugerio admitted in his plea that from July 2006 to August 2008, he conspired with others to use force, fraud and coercion to cause approximately five victims to come to the Atlanta area from Mexico and to engage in prostitution for the financial benefit of the members of the alleged conspiracy. He further admitted to transporting a victim to states outside of Georgia, including Alabama and Florida, to engage her in prostitution. Rugerio used false promises of better lives and marriage to lure young, impoverished Mexican women to come to the United States, knowing that he would cause the victims to engage in prostitution upon their arrival. Rugerio required his victims to engage in commercial sex with many men per night, seven days a week. Rugerio was indicted on the charges on August 12, 2008.

Rugerio faces a sentence of 5 years in prison. Rugerio remains in custody pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. before Senior United States District Judge Clarence Cooper.

This case is the result of a joint investigation conducted by ICE and the FBI.

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Tennessee Man Arrested in Georgia on Child Enticement Charges

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, announces on behalf of the Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force, the following arrest:

Tim Grub, age 27, a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, was arrested at Catoosa County, Georgia on Sunday, October 25, 2009, for attempting to solicit a minor child for sex. Grub traveled to Catoosa County, Georgia after having engaged undercover officers/agents of the FBI’s Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force in a series of chats on the Internet.

Grub, an employee at a satellite radio firm, is currently being detained at the Catoosa County Jail.

The Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force consists of federal agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and officers from the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Police Department, Dade County Sheriff’s Office, Rossville Police Department, and the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office.

The public is reminded that all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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More Than 50 Children Rescued During Operation Cross Country IV

Over the past 72 hours, the FBI, its local and state law enforcement partners, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) concluded Operation Cross Country IV, a three-day national enforcement action as part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative. The operation included enforcement actions in 36 cities across 30 FBI divisions around the country and led to the recovery of 52 children who were being victimized through prostitution. Additionally, 691 others, including 60 pimps, were arrested on state and local charges.

“Child prostitution continues to be a significant problem in our country, as evidenced by the number of children rescued through the continued efforts of our crimes against children task forces,” said Kevin Perkins, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “There is no work more important than protecting America’s children and freeing them from the cycle of victimization. Through our strategic partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies, we are able to make a difference.”

Task Force operations usually begin as local actions, targeting such places as truck stops, casinos, street “tracks,” and Internet websites, based on intelligence gathered by officers working in their respective jurisdictions. Initial arrests are often violations of local and state laws relating to prostitution or solicitation. Information gleaned from those arrested often uncovers organized efforts to prostitute women and children across many states. FBI agents further develop this information in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and file federal charges where appropriate.

To date, the 34 Innocence Lost Task Forces and Working Groups have recovered nearly 900 children from the streets. The investigations and subsequent 510 convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences, including multiple 25-years-to-life sentences and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets.

“It is repugnant that children in these times could be subjected to the great pain, suffering, and indignity of being forced into sexual slavery for someone else's profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, “but Cross Country IV has shown us that the scourge of child prostitution still exists on the streets of our cities. The FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and all the state and local law enforcement agencies that contributed to this operation are to be commended for their dedication to this cause. We will all continue to work tirelessly to end the victimization of innocent children.”

In the spring of 2003, the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, in partnership with the Department of Justice’s CEOS and NCMEC, formed the Innocence Lost National Initiative to address the growing problem of children forced into prostitution.

“Child trafficking for the purposes of prostitution is organized criminal activity using kids as commodities for sale or trade,” said Ernie Allen, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. “These kids are victims. They lack the ability to walk away. This is 21st century slavery. We are proud to have worked hand-in-hand with the FBI and Justice Department in a partnership that is unprecedented, historic, and working.”

This program brings state and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers all from around the country to NCMEC, where the groups are trained together. In addition, CEOS has reinforced the training by assigning prosecutors to help bring cases in those cities plagued by child prostitution.

The FBI thanks the 1,599 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers representing 112 separate agencies who participated in Operation Cross Country and ongoing enforcement efforts.

The charges announced today are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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More Than 300 Alleged La Familia Cartel Members and Associates Arrested in Two-Day Nationwide Takedown

Today Attorney General Eric Holder announced the arrest of nearly 1,200 individuals on narcotics-related charges and the seizure of more than 11.7 tons of narcotics as part of a 44-month multi-agency law enforcement investigation known as “Project Coronado.” The Attorney General was joined in announcing the current results of Project Coronado by DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III and ATF Acting Director Kenneth E. Melson.

Over the past two days, 303 individuals in 19 states were arrested as part of Project Coronado, which targeted the distribution network of a major Mexican drug trafficking organization known as La Familia, through coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement. More than 3,000 agents and officers operated across the United States to make the arrests during the two-day takedown. During the two-day operation alone, $3.4 million in U.S. currency, 729 pounds of methamphetamine, 62 kilograms of cocaine, 967 pounds of marijuana, 144 weapons and 109 vehicles were seized by law enforcement agents.

“This unprecedented, coordinated U.S. law enforcement action—the largest ever undertaken against a Mexican drug cartel—has dealt a significant blow to La Familia’s supply chain of illegal drugs, weapons and cash flowing between Mexico and the United States,” said Attorney General Holder. “We will not allow these cartels to operate unfettered in our country, and with the increases in cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities in recent years, we are taking the fight to our adversaries. We will continue to stand strong with our partners in Mexico as we work to disrupt and dismantle cartel operations on both sides of the border.”

The La Familia cartel is a violent drug trafficking cartel based in the state of Michoacán, in southwestern Mexico. According to court documents, La Familia controls drug manufacturing and distribution in and around Michoacán, including the importation of vast quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States. La Familia is philosophically opposed to the sale of methamphetamine to Mexicans, and instead supports its export to the United States for consumption by Americans. La Familia is a heavily armed cartel that has utilized violence to support its narcotics trafficking business including murders, kidnappings and assaults. According to one indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York, associates of La Familia based in the United States have allegedly acquired military-grade weapons, including assault weapons and ammunition, and have arranged for them to be smuggled back into Mexico for use by La Familia. In a criminal complaint filed in Dallas, ATF investigators allege that operatives of La Familia shipped hundreds of firearms from the U.S. to Mexico over a 12-month period ending in October 2009. Individuals indicted in the cases are charged with a variety of crimes, including: conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana; distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana; conspiracy to import narcotics into the United States; money laundering; and other violations of federal law. Numerous defendants face forfeiture allegations as well.

To date, Project Coronado has led to the arrest of 1,186 individuals and the seizure of approximately $32.8 million in U.S. currency, and approximately 2,710 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,999 kilograms of cocaine, 29 pounds of heroin, 16,390 pounds of marijuana, 389 weapons and 269 vehicles.

“Project Coronado, our massive assault on the La Familia Cartel, is part of our continued fight against all of the powerful Mexico-based drug cartels,” said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “This organization, the newest of Mexican cartels, is directly responsible for a vast majority of the methamphetamine pouring into our country across our Southwest Border, and has had a hand in fueling the cycle of violence that is wracking Mexico today. DEA, along with our U.S. and Mexican partners, are committed to strategically attacking the international and domestic drug trade with every tool at our disposal, and defeating those that thrive on the suffering of others.”

“Multi-agency coordinated investigations such as Project Coronado are the key to disrupting the operations of complex criminal organizations like La Familia. Together—with the strong collaboration of our international, federal, state and local partners—we have dealt a substantial blow to a group that has polluted our neighborhoods with illicit drugs and has terrorized Mexico with unimaginable violence,” said Director Mueller.

“ATF’s arrest of defendants in Project Coronado highlight the almost inseparable link between illegal trafficking of firearms and narcotics between the U.S. and Mexico,” said ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson. “ATF is on the frontline against violent crime and focuses its investigative tools on criminal groups such as La Familia, which use firearms to further their illegal trade and ruin and endanger countless lives. It is alleged that La Familia used proceeds from the sale of drugs to purchase or obtain hundreds of firearms that were then moved illicitly to Mexico.”

“The operation to dismantle the La Familia drug trafficking organization in the United States demonstrates an unprecedented level of partnership and coordination at the local, state and federal levels. We at ICE are proud to have played an important role in yesterday’s operation and look forward to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners to target these criminal organizations,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton.

Arrests were made or charges have been unsealed yesterday and today related to Project Coronado in the following districts: Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, Northern District of Georgia, District of Massachusetts, District of Minnesota, Southern District of Mississippi, Eastern District of Missouri, Northern District of Oklahoma, Southern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Middle District of North Carolina, District of South Carolina, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Western District of Texas and the Western District of Washington. There were also arrests by state authorities in California, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia. Assistance for Project Coronado was provided by the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Office of International Affairs. Additionally, local prosecutions will occur in San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif.; Clark County, Nev.; Gwinnett County, Ga.; and Pitt County, N.C.

The investigative efforts in Project Coronado were coordinated by the multi-agency Special Operations Division, comprised of agents and analysts from the DEA, FBI, ICE, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service and ATF, as well as attorneys from the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section. More than 300 federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies contributed investigative and prosecutorial resources to Project Coronado through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.

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Mableton Man Faces Federal Charges Arising Out of Home Depot Kickback Scheme

Update: Ian Jay Evans was found NOT GUILTY August 25, 2010.
Case 1:09-cr-00449-RWS-RGV Document 93 Filed 08/25/10 Page 1 of 1
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATLANTA DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
IAN JAY EVANS,
Defendant.
::::::::
CRIMINAL ACTION NO.
1:09-CR-0449-RWS
JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISCHARGE
The Jury having returned a verdict of not guilty as to all of the charges in
the Indictment, it is hereby ORDERED and ADJUDGED that Defendant Ian
Jay Evans is not guilty of the charges in the Indictment and is hereby
DISCHARGED from all obligations arising from this case.
SO ORDERED this 25th day of August, 2010.


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IAN JAY EVANS, 49, of Mableton, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and 17 additional counts of money laundering, related to bribes that he allegedly paid to a high-level Home Depot employee. EVANS was arraigned today by United States Magistrate Judge E. Clayton Scofield, III.

IRS Special Agent In Charge Reginael D. McDaniel said, “IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to commit financial expertise to unravel illegal schemes. Our role is to trace the ill-gotten monies to the individuals ultimately responsible for the crime.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the indictment and information presented in court: From approximately June 2002 through approximately May 2005, EVANS, a former Product Merchant for Home Depot, who left the company in February 2001, paid more than $1.4 million in kickbacks to RONALD DOUGLASS MATHENY II, 49, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who was, at the time, a Product Merchant at Home Depot. In exchange for the kickbacks he received from EVANS, MATHENY arranged for Home Depot to purchase items through EVANS for resale in Home Depot’s retail stores on less than the most advantageous terms to Home Depot, and to have EVANS supply services to Home Depot and its suppliers on less than the most advantageous terms to Home Depot.

MATHENY was charged in a Criminal Information and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in relation to this kickback scheme on May 19, 2009. MATHENY is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Richard W. Story on December 3, 2009, at 9:30 a.m.

EVANS could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, EVANS could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each of the substantive money-laundering counts. EVANS also could be fined up to $250,000 on each count. 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.

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

Anyone with information on corporate kickbacks and fraud is asked to call the FBI at 404-679-9000.

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Fort Benning Arsonist Sentenced

/PRNewswire/ -- Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and Fort Benning announced today the sentencing of a former Army civilian employee responsible for burning down the Fort Benning Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) building on Feb. 6, 2009. The Honorable Clay Land, U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia sentenced Shawana Topekia Pierce, 31, of Columbus, to 84 months (7 years) in federal prison, plus 3 years of supervised release and ordered her to pay $7.5 million in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.

"This was an attack on an institution of justice, having a significant community impact," said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Gant of ATF's Atlanta Field Division. "ATF, Army CID, and military police investigators brought to bear every available asset in our collective effort to investigate the fire and solve this crime. This investigation is a textbook example of agencies working together to solve a complex case in very short order."

"Today's sentencing should send a clear message to everyone affiliated with the U.S. Army, in or out or uniform, that if you perpetrate a crime against our Army or its people, or destroy government property, we will track you down and do everything in our power to bring you to justice," said Brigadier General Rodney Johnson, the Commanding General of Army CID. "We were fortunate to have such a tremendous working relationship with the ATF throughout this investigation and we were even more fortunate that none of our first responders or Soldiers were killed during this senseless act."

At the request of the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Command, ATF deployed its National Response Team (NRT) and special agents from ATF's Atlanta Field Division joined the investigation to work alongside CID agents and Military Police personnel. By Feb. 11, the team of investigators had officially determined the cause of the fire to be incendiary ("arson"), had secured a federal warrant for Pierce's arrest and took her into custody on the same day. Later that month, a federal grand jury formally charged Pierce for the federal crime of arson for her role in causing the destruction of the Ft. Benning SJA office building.

According to information presented in court and U.S. Attorney's Office officials who prosecuted the case, Pierce pleaded guilty to the charge on July 15, 2009 and admitted to burning down the facility. On February 6, Pierce traveled to Fort Benning and went to the SJA building, where she broke a window, entered the building and poured gasoline in different places. She also placed piles of paper on some desks. Pierce then placed two propane gas bottles inside the building and used a butane lighter to ignite the gasoline-soaked parts of the building, then departed.

The Fort Benning Fire Department, assisted by the Columbus Fire Department, responded to and suppressed the fire. The SJA building was completely destroyed. Two first responders, a fire fighter and a police officer, suffered smoke injuries during the fire and were treated at a hospital.

"The Fort Benning community really came together to reestablish legal services, immediately following the fire, which is a tremendous testimony to the team here," said Col. Tracy Barnes, Staff Judge Advocate. "But we still feel the effects today, since we are now operating out of four locations across post. Fort Benning also suffered an historical loss, since the SJA building was the second oldest building on Fort Benning."

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Now Opening At Home Depot: Rebuilding Advice For Georgians

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mitigation specialists are on the road again, offering Georgians free disaster-resistance advice.

Beginning at 8 a.m., Sat., Oct. 17, the FEMA specialists will be opening and staffing an informational display at:

The Home Depot
1062 Richard D Sailors Parkway
Powder Springs, GA 30127

The specialists will be on hand from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 22 and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 23.

FEMA mitigation specialists have been making the rounds at home improvement stores throughout disaster-stricken communities, to provide residents with important information on ways to repair or improve their homes to reduce or prevent future disaster damages.

Those techniques include such ideas as: reducing mold and mildew, protecting electrical systems, furnaces, and other appliances; reinforcing structures against high winds and flooding; safeguarding valuables; and securing other important personal property. Information on flood insurance also is available.

The information, which includes reference booklets, is free and provided both in English and Spanish. No registration is required. There is no limit on the number of times someone can visit with a specialist or on the number of publications they can have.

The outreach teams and displays are planning to set up in other Home Depot stores as well for the next few weeks.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
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Coming To A Lowe's Near You: Free Rebuilding Advice For Georgians

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mitigation specialists are on the road again setting up in a store near you.

This weekend, three new information outreach booths will open at home improvement stores in Cherokee, Fulton and Gwinnett counties to provide one-on-one assistance for Georgians who are interested in better protecting their homes and properties from disasters.

Beginning Sat., Oct. 17, information displays are opening at 8 a.m. at the following locations:

Lowe’s
5924 Roswell Road, NE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Lowe’s
2044 Cumming Highway
Canton, GA 30114

Lowe’s
3260 Lawrenceville Suwanee Road
Suwanee, GA 30024

The booths will be staffed with specialists from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 22, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 23.

An outreach booth at the Lowe’s home-improvement store in Austell at 1717 East-West Connector remains open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 22, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 23.

Three outreach booths that opened last week closed at noon today.

Those locations are:

Lowe’s, 7001 Douglas Blvd., in Douglasville

Lowe’s, 3250 Cobb Parkway in Kennesaw

Lowe’s, 733 Pleasant Hill Road in Lilburn

Since Oct. 3, FEMA mitigation specialists have been setting up booths at home-improvement stores throughout disaster-stricken communities, to provide residents with important information on ways to repair or improve their homes to reduce or prevent future disaster damages.

Those techniques include such ideas as: reducing mold and mildew, protecting electrical systems, furnaces, and other appliances; reinforcing structures against high winds and flooding; safeguarding valuables; and securing other important personal property. Information on flood insurance also is available.

The information, which includes reference booklets, is free and provided both in English and Spanish. No registration is required. There is no limit on the number of times someone can visit with a specialist or on the number of publications they can have.

So far, the teams have talked with more than 4,000 visitors to home-improvement stores throughout the metro Atlanta area.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
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Scam warning - Dynasty Sales, LLC going door to door selling magazine subscriptions

Advisory Message has been issued by the Tyrone Police Department.
Sunday October 18, 2009 16:38 PM EDT

An individual living just outside the Town limits sent me an email to advise me of a potential scam:

"A young white male representing “Dynasty Sales, LLC” was in the _______ subdivision on Friday October 16 selling magazine subscriptions. My wife ‘bought’ a magazine that totaled $49.00. We received a call from another person living in Sharpsburg today. He found my wife’s order form in the street. Using the number on the order form, he contacted us to let us know he had our order. He had also been approached on Friday evening but didn’t buy. We compared stories and the person’s description matched but the sales pitch didn’t. The young man told us he lived in a specific house in our neighborhood. When we checked if he lived there we found out he didn’t but had already been to that house soliciting money for a soccer team. This guy is really good and I hope he doesn’t hit Tyrone."

Please be extremely vigilant when individuals approach your home soliciting products. Criminals use these tactics to obtain your information for the purpose of identity fraud and they may be using their approach and sales pitch as a method to get a closer look at your home in order to "case" it.

It is against Town ordinance for anyone to sell door to door without a permit and documentation from Town Hall. Ask anyone who approaches you to see their permit. If they can't produce a valid permit tell them "no thanks", politely ask them to leave, and call 911 or 770-461-HELP immediately and provide the dispatcher with a description of the person and the activity and an officer will respond.

If you have interacted with this individual - especially if you made a purchase - please send me an email at bperkins@tyrone.org and I will arrange to have a report filed and assist you with protecting your information.

Thanks,
Chief Brandon Perkins

Former Polk County Jail Sergeant Sentenced to Federal Prison for Beating Inmate

JOSHUA DAVID LOWE, 25, of Aragon, Georgia, a former sergeant at the Polk County Jail, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr., on civil rights charges of using excessive force against an inmate in his custody.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This defendant was entrusted with protecting the public’s safety but abused that trust by using his authority to violently assault an inmate. Law enforcement officers are charged with protecting, not violating, citizens’ civil rights.”

Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said, “The FBI, in investigating such civil rights abuses involving law enforcement officials, is never a pleasant endeavor but does illustrate our commitment to ensuring that the federal civil rights laws protect everyone. Law enforcement personnel, as a whole, understand their responsibilities and duties and are very aware that such instances of excessive force erode public trust and only make their jobs more difficult.”

Polk County Sheriff Kelly McClendon said, “We regret that Lowe's actions reflect negatively on Law Enforcement and Public Safety personnel; However, this should be a lesson for officers to remember that we are held to a higher standard. I feel that the judicial system has worked to its fullest potential in this case. As Sheriff, it is my duty to protect not only the citizens, but also the inmates housed at the Polk County Detention Facility and to assure that this type of misconduct will not be tolerated.”

LOWE was sentenced to 1 year, 9 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. LOWE pleaded guilty to the charges on August 8, 2009.

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates and the evidence presented in court: LOWE admitted that he abused his authority as a law enforcement officer on February 7, 2009, when he unnecessarily and repeatedly struck an inmate in his head and face while the inmate was strapped in a restraint chair. LOWE agreed that his conduct resulted in bodily injury to the inmate and violated federal law and the constitutional right of the Polk County inmate not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law. A number of LOWE’s fellow detention officers witnessed the incident and came forward to report LOWE’s conduct. One of the detention officers who witnessed the assault told federal authorities that he “saw blood everywhere” and that the inmate was “spewing blood” after he was attacked by LOWE. Another detention officer told an FBI agent that LOWE’s assault on the inmate was unjustified and “horrible.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

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Roswell Man Arrested for Attempting to Solicit a Minor Child for Sex

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, announces on behalf of the Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force, the following arrest:

Christopher Rubush, age 35, a resident of Roswell, Georgia, was arrested at Whitfield County, Georgia on Saturday, October 10, 2009 on State charges related to attempting to solicit a minor child for sex. Rubush traveled to Whitfield County, Georgia after having engaged undercover officers/agents of the FBI’s Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force in a series of chats on the internet.

Rubush, a retail credit department employee, is currently being detained at the Whitfield County Detention Center.

The Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force consists of federal agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and officers from the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Police Department, Dade County Sheriff’s Office, Rossville Police Department, and the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office.

The public is reminded that all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Robbery of Suntrust Bank in Savannah

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a serial bank robber who is responsible for the following Savannah, Georgia bank robberies.

On 10/05/2009, at approximately 12:20 p.m., a lone black male entered the Suntrust Bank, located at 13060 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia. The robber proceeded to the customer counter and, after a brief period of time, proceeded to a teller station located near the lobby entrance where he presented a demand note. The robber departed the bank without further incident having obtained an undisclosed amount money.

This same robber is also believed to be responsible for the 9/04/2009 robbery of the Wachovia Bank, located at 10422 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia and the 9/14/2009 robbery of the BB&T Bank, located at 7 E. Congress Street, Savannah, Georgia.

The robber, a black male, is described as being in his early 20’s, 5’3”- 5’4” in height, weighing 130 lbs., wearing a light colored sweatshirt and skull cap.

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

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Albany Man Sentenced for Robbing Leesburg Bank in 2008‏

James Albert Creason was sentenced on October 8, 2009, to a term of 135 months in prison by the Honorable W. Louis Sands, Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. Creason, 52, of Albany, Georgia, pled guilty on July 21, 2009, to armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Creason’s sentence must be served in its entirety, as there is no parole in the Federal prison system.

Creason, armed with a .32 caliber handgun, robbed the Heritage Bank of the South in Leesburg, Georgia, of approximately $36,000 on August 8, 2008. After emptying the bank teller’s cash drawer, Creason led two bank employees to the vault where he obtained more funds. Creason was apprehended in his vehicle a short distance from the bank by officers with the Leesburg Police Department.

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Atlanta Chiropractors Indicted for Health Care Fraud

ANDREW L. SOKOL, 41, and JULIE B. WEISBERG, 35, both of Marietta, Georgia, were arraigned October 9, 2009, on felony charges of fraudulently submitting millions of dollars of insurance claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield and other private insurers for physical therapy services that were not actually provided.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “These defendants allegedly billed Blue Cross Blue Shield and other private insurers over $11 million for physical therapy services they did not provide, when in fact they were providing massages, personal training, and chiropractic adjustments to their patients. Health care fraud ultimately affects everyone, in higher premiums and higher service costs, and we will vigorously prosecute those who abuse the system.”

Atlanta FBI Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones said of the case, “Health care providers who abuse their positions by filing fraudulent insurance claims for personal financial gain are a very real problem to the health care industry itself. Loss amounts in these criminal fraud cases often demonstrate a level of greed that is hard to comprehend. The FBI will continue to work with its law enforcement partners as well as industry experts in combating health care fraud.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation continues to be actively involved in deterring Health Care Fraud, in conjunction with the Law Enforcement,” said Reginael D. McDaniel, Special Agent in Charge. “CI's role is to follow the money trail from the initial criminal act to the perpetrator who received the financial benefit.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court, SOKOL is a licensed chiropractor who owned and operated “WellnessOne” chiropractic clinics in Marietta, Buckhead, Duluth, Vinings, and other locations in metro Atlanta. WEISBERG is also a licensed chiropractor, married to SOKOL, and was a partner in WellnessOne of Marietta, the most profitable of the clinics.

WellnessOne allegedly offered massage, personal training, and chiropractic services to its patients, but the indictment alleges these services were fraudulently billed to insurance companies as physical therapy. SOKOL and WEISBERG allegedly targeted MBNA and Bank of America employees because the Blue Cross Blue Shield policies covering those employees provided generous chiropractic and physical therapy insurance benefits. To attract these “patients” to WellnessOne clinics, SOKOL and WEISBERG designed and implemented frequent promotions, giving bank employees who came in for a massage or chiropractic adjustment gifts cards in the amount of $50, $25, or $10, and restaurant and free gasoline cards; raffle tickets offering the chance to win BMW and Hummer leases or $5,000; frozen turkeys and pies at Thanksgiving and Christmas; gift bags containing supplements, vitamins, lumbar and cervical pillows, and weight loss patches; and free catered lunches in the clinics. SOKOL and WEISBERG also waived these patients’ co-payments and deductibles, resulting in the patients being compensated – with gift cards and other items of value – while paying nothing for the massages and chiropractic adjustments they received at WellnessOne.

From January 2005 through September 2007, SOKOL and WEISBERG allegedly employed licensed medical doctors and physical therapists in order to bill massage as physical therapy, even though these licensed providers never saw the majority of patients and massage therapists were actually giving the massages. Several medical providers quit when they realized WellnessOne was billing insurers under their names for services they did not perform. In addition to using false provider names and billing codes, SOKOL allegedly directed that services be billed on different days and under different tax identification numbers to conceal the fraud from insurers.

Beginning in 2006, SOKOL and WEISBERG allegedly permitted patients to visit a local gym in the Atlanta area and then fraudulently billed those gym visits to insurers as physical therapy. When that arrangement ended, SOKOL allegedly had small gyms built in the WellnessOne clinics and fraudulently billed personal training sessions to insurers as physical therapy.

The indictment also alleges SOKOL and WEISBERG set quotas for employees and pressured the medical doctors on staff to order unnecessary tests and procedures, so that insurers could be billed more. SOKOL and WEISBERG allegedly had receptionists ask patients to sit in “wobble chairs” and lay on “hydro beds” for a few minutes before their massages and chiropractic adjustments, so that insurers could also be billed for these “therapies,” and had them automatically fit patients for two sets of shoe orthotics that were billed to insurers. The indictment alleges that as a result of the conspiracy and scheme to defraud, the defendants caused the submission of over $11 million in fraudulent insurance claims for physical therapy procedures to Blue Cross Blue Shield and other private insurers.

SOKOL and WEISBERG were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 6, 2009. The indictment charges SOKOL with one count of conspiracy, 53 counts of health care fraud, 3 counts of mail fraud, and 5 counts of money laundering. The indictment charges WEISBERG with one count of conspiracy, 24 counts of health care fraud, and 3 counts of mail fraud. The indictment also includes a forfeiture provision.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, the health care fraud counts each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison, the mail fraud counts each carry a maximum of 20 years in prison, and the money laundering counts each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison. Each conspiracy, health care fraud, and mail fraud count carries a maximum fine of up to $250,000. Each money laundering count carries a maximum fine of up to $250,000 or, in the alternative, a fine of up to twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transaction. A forfeiture provision in the indictment seeks any and all ill-gotten gains from the alleged scheme, including a personal property at 3306 Hadleigh Court, in Marietta, Georgia.

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.

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Miami Man Convicted in Million-Dollar Medicaid Fraud

A federal jury today returned a guilty verdict against VARIAN V. SCOTT, 36, of Miami, Florida, in a health care fraud scheme that used forged doctors’ prescriptions for high-dollar cancer and HIV medications and caused the cost of those medications to be billed to the Georgia Medicaid program, resulting in an approximately $1.1 million loss to state and federal taxpayers.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the verdict, “The Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit confirms that the conviction of this defendant and his co-conspirator are the first convictions in the State of Georgia for a fraud scheme in which Medicaid was defrauded through stolen and forged prescriptions and stolen patient information. Identity theft, wherever it occurs, must be stopped. State and federal agencies in Georgia are geared up to pursue and stop identity thieves from defrauding our health care programs, and from victimizing others, including innocent patients and doctors, who are hurt by such schemes.”

Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker said of the case, “The defendant and his cronies harmed not only the taxpayers by defrauding the state Medicaid program, but they caused potential harm to the individuals who were on the receiving end of these re-sold prescriptions. These cancer-fighting medications must be handled and stored with extreme care to preserve their effectiveness, and street sellers aren't known for running hygienic operations or for making sure they properly handle these sensitive medications. At the end of the day, this verdict sends a clear message that this type of fraud will result in significant punishment in order to protect taxpayer resources and to preserve the integrity and efficacy of these cancer treatment programs.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones said, “Now, more than ever, it is imperative that federal funds within the health care arena be directed towards those that need it. Those that choose to exploit and defraud these government programs also are depriving many people in need of the medical care that these programs provide. The FBI will continue to work with its law enforcement partners and industry experts in pursuing these types of criminal activities and exposing those individuals responsible who, by their actions, demonstrate little or no compassion for their fellow man but instead are driven by greed.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: Today the jury found SCOTT guilty of running a health care fraud conspiracy between September 2005 and April 2006. SCOTT and his cousin, HEZRON COLLIE, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, bought blank doctors’ prescription pads from insiders at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute and two other doctor’s offices, one in Atlanta and one in Florida. SCOTT and COLLIE then bought names, birthdates, and Medicaid numbers of dozens of Georgia Medicaid patients, and forged approximately 164 doctors’ prescriptions for “Neupogen,” a chemotherapy drug, and multiple medications used to treat HIV, using the patient Medicaid information. A one-month supply of Neupogen costs approximately $10,000. SCOTT and COLLIE then presented the forged prescriptions along with the patient information to CVS, Publix, Walgreens, Kroger, and Eckerd pharmacies throughout the Atlanta area. SCOTT and COLLIE also recruited a pharmacist at one of the Publix pharmacies, and a pharmacy technician at one of the Kroger pharmacies, to help facilitate the scheme.

According to the evidence, SCOTT and COLLIE picked up the drugs from the pharmacies, removed the pharmacy adhesive labels using lighter fluid, and then transported the drugs to south Florida, where SCOTT had a connection who bought them at 30 percent of their wholesale cost. Expert testimony at trial established that there is significant demand for the medications that SCOTT and COLLIE fraudulently acquired. Testimony established that there is currently a multi-billion dollar gray market for stolen, illegally obtained, or counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and that such medications often end up traveling through the stream of commerce back to shelves of legitimate pharmacies.

SCOTT and COLLIE were indicted on December 16, 2008. On June 4, 2009, COLLIE pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of health care fraud charged in the indictment, and to a criminal information charging him with one count of health care fraud for a related scheme in which he participated between May and June of 2008. The Publix pharmacist cooperated with authorities, pleaded guilty to related charges in Gwinnett County Superior Court on January 13, 2009, and awaits sentencing. The pharmacy technician was not charged in the scheme but cooperated with law enforcement. The pharmacies and the doctors also cooperated in the investigation.

The pharmacies billed approximately $1.1 million to Georgia Medicaid for the cost of the medications that SCOTT and COLLIE fraudulently acquired.

SCOTT could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the 21 counts. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, December 14, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr. 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. A sentencing date for COLLIE has not yet been set.

The case is the culmination of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Drugs & Narcotics Agency, Georgia Department of Community Health, and the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Valuable assistance in this case has also been provided by the Georgia State Patrol, the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office, the Clayton County Sheriff's Office, and the Gwinnett County Police Department.

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Oxendine: Is Your Home Safe? Fire Prevention Week is Oct 4 - 10

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) remind Georgians that Fire Prevention Week is October 4-10. The theme this year is, “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned!”

This year, Oxendine and fire personnel around the state will be spreading the word about ways to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns. Additionally, fire safety educators will be teaching local residents how to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs.

The statistics are staggering. Each year roughly 100 people die as a result of home fires and burns in Georgia, and more than 200,000 individuals are seen in the nation’s emergency rooms for burn injuries.

“The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns,” said Commissioner Oxendine. “Burns are painful and can result in serious scarring and even death. When we take extra caution in our homes to ensure that the curling iron is out of children’s reach or pot handles are turned away from the edge of the stove, such injuries are entirely preventable. Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn injuries is a healthy change we can make happen.”

By following simple safety rules, you can “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”

• Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
• Have a 3-foot “kid-free” zone around the stove.
• Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
• Be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, heaters.
• Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an object in the outlet.
• Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use.
• Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
• Set your hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees.
• Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets.

For more information on planned activities, please contact your local fire department or call Commissioner Oxendine's Fire Safety Education Division at 404-657-0831.
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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Georgia Tax Preparer

/PRNewswire/ -- The United States has sued a tax return preparer in Marietta, Ga., seeking to bar him from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. According to the Government complaint, Robert Knupp of Marietta prepares federal income tax returns for customers, claiming large fraudulent tax refunds. Court papers filed in the case allege that Knupp prepared a tax return in which he claimed a fraudulent refund for one customer of more than $2 million.

The suit alleges that Knupp employs a tax fraud scheme that relies on false IRS Forms 1099-OID claims to report fictitious tax withholding on his customers' returns and then claims refunds of huge amounts. The complaint further alleges that the scheme is part of a growing trend among tax defiers to file frivolous tax returns and forms in an attempt to escape their federal tax obligations and steal from the U.S. Treasury.

While the Internal Revue Service (IRS) detects and stops most fraudulent refund claims, Knupp's fraudulent tax return preparation has resulted in the IRS's issuance of over $65,000 in erroneous refund payments to his customers. The government alleges that the total amount of fraudulent refunds requested on the returns Knupp prepared or filed in 2009 was approximately $11 million.

Customers who participate in this tax fraud scheme may be subject to sizeable penalties for filing returns with excessive refund claims -- including a penalty equal to 20 percent of the amount improperly claimed. The penalty applies even if, as usually happens, the IRS detects the false claim and blocks a tax refund. Thus a taxpayer improperly claiming a $2 million refund could be liable for a $400,000 penalty as well as other penalties and possible criminal prosecution.

"Taxpayers should report any tax preparer who suggests reporting fictitious tax withholding on a tax return by following instructions available at www.irs.gov," said John A. DiCicco, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Tax Division. "These schemes carry a high price -- steep civil penalties and, where appropriate criminal prosecution -- for preparers who promote them and for their customers who sign false tax returns."

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Georgia Animal Advocate Honored by National Animal Protection Organization

In recognition of those in law enforcement who made the most meaningful progress against animal abusers in the last year, The Humane Society of the United States honored law enforcement agencies from across the country during its third annual Humane Law Enforcement Awards ceremony on Saturday.

"Jane Berry is a tireless animal advocate, and she is not afraid to get her hands dirty to help animals and to put their abusers behind bars," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "We are proud to present Jane with this award for her remarkable commitment to civic engagement and the rule of law."

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