crime Archive

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WANTED

– May 31, 2012Posted in: Press Releases

Albany Police Department

Theft Unit: Entering Auto Suspect

Albany Police Department                                  

201 West Oglethorpe Boulevard

Albany, Georgia 31702        

(229) 431-3288                                                       

The Albany Police Department’s Investigations Bureau: Theft Unit would like to solicit the public’s assistance with identifying the following person:

 

Case #22-12-012173

Crime: Entering Auto

Location: 700 block of Georgetown

Victim: Donyetta Hines

 

 

 

On May 28, 2012, an unknown person broke into the victim’s 2007 Chevrolet Malibu and stole her purse which contained debit and credit cards.  Afterwards, the suspect walked to Heritage Bank on Loftus Drive and attempted to withdraw money from the ATM.  As you can see, the male suspect in the photo has a very distinctive tattoo on his chest. 

 

Anyone with information regarding the identity or whereabouts of this individual w should contact the Albany Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau at (229) 431-3288.  If citizens prefer to provide information anonymously, they can call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (229) 436-TIPS.

           

Tags: apd, crime, Crime bulletin, Crimestoppers, criminal, theft, Wanted
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Be on the look out for: Leroy Eugene Taylor (Wanted Person)

– May 21, 2012Posted in: Press Releases

 

 

FROM: Detective Kandace Hird APD Investigation Division
DATE: May 21, 2012

SUBJECT: Leroy Eugene Taylor (Wanted Person)

The Albany Police Department’s Investigations Division would like to solicit the public’s assistance with locating the following person:

B/M Leroy Eugene Taylor –  Last known address: 2573 Crescent Dr.  Albany, Ga.

This offender is wanted for Aggravated Assault, Rape, Aggravated Stalking, Burglary, and Battery.

Anyone who has information regarding this incident should call Crime Stoppers at (229) 436-TIPS or they can contact Albany Police Department Investigative Division at (229) 431-3288.
 


Tags: crime, Wanted
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On positive and negative comments

– May 1, 2012Posted in: Outlook

 

 

 

There are a lot of people out there who believe that “negative” comments about Albany hurt our community. I recently had a friend on Facebook say as much. As someone who can be pretty critical of our local government, I felt it important to address this just a bit.

First, let me point out to the aforementioned Facebook friend that I’m not singling them out in any way.  In fact, this is someone who dislikes much of the government shenanigans as vigorously as I do.  However, there are people who say the same thing and yet seem to honestly believe that any comment they perceive as “negative” hurts our community. Among those is former mayor Willie Adams who famously blasted local media for our coverage of Don Buie and said that the coverage was hurting Albany.

These “negative” comments aren’t going to directly help Albany, that’s for sure. These kinds of comments may make potential employers question whether they want to consider Albany for a new operation.  It may also make more than a few decide to go elsewhere right off the bat.

However, as long as the comments in question are accurate, telling people to stay quiet is about as useless as putting a door knocker on a chair.  Critical comments – often termed “negative” comments by some – aren’t meant to lure potential employers to Albany.  Instead, they’re meant to shine light on a problem.  As a friend says, “Shine the light on it, and make the roaches scatter.”  She’s right.

Ignoring the problems, which you are essentially doing when you tell someone to not make “negative” comments, will not make them go away.  Sure, we in the media could just report on the happy things in Albany.  There actually are some good things going on here after all.  The question is, what good will it do?

Albany is not exactly thriving.  Sure, there are people who are doing well in the local economy, but are they the typical?  I don’t think so.  I spoke with a well respected business person this past weekend who confided in me that they have heard that many a business here in 2012 won’t be here in 2013 unless there is a change in the local economy.  Ignoring that reality won’t make it go away.

The “Good Life City” isn’t all that great for many Albanians.  Poverty is a problem, and it’s growing.  New poor actually appear to be migrating to Albany from other areas because we have built up such strong support for our poor.  Free healthcare, free housing, sources for free food, the works.  Everything they need is here, so they seem to be coming here.  Ignoring the poverty here, and ignoring that in our effort to help the less fortunate, we seem to be attracting more won’t help either.

Our schools are atrocious. Our teachers cheat on tests. Principles and school board officials allegedly lie on forms to get free lunches for their children, despite having ample income to pay for it, without taxpayer money.  These are the people our kids are supposed to look up to.  If this is the best we can offer our kids as far as role models who aren’t singers, rappers, actors, or athletes, then maybe mankind is doomed.

Crime is ridiculous.  Our police haven’t been able to stem the tide of criminal onslaught we appear to be going through. People are afraid to walk the streets of Downtown Albany and have been for years. People are afraid to walk down the street in nice neighborhoods for fear of being assaulted or worse.  Please, someone tell me how keeping quiet about these problems is beneficial?

The fact of the matter is, it won’t.

We can sit here and pretend everything is fine, or we can actually discuss the problems.  Yes, we might lose a couple of new employers in the short term, but so what?  If we actually fix the problems in this town, we may actually attract even more jobs with even better companies.  Not only that, but we will have a better place to live in.  Isn’t that worth the effort?

Tags: Albany Ga., bad government, city government, community, county government, crime, helpful criticism, negative comments, Outlook, poverty, school cheating scandal, solve problems, Tom Knighton
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Cartoon

– April 2, 2012Posted in: Cartoon

Tags: Albany, armed robbery, cartoon, crime, D. Sterling, Gangs, Political cartoon
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Pay it all back

– March 30, 2012Posted in: Columns, Ted Anderson

 

 

I have been wondering about this for many years and I have never been able to figure out why our government is so pitiful when it comes to handling OUR money.  They do a lot of stupid things, it seems to me, especially when our country is in such a pure financial condition.  What am I talking about?

Every day, I hear about how over crowded our jails and prisons are how much per year it costs to house and to take care of each prisoner.  It seems to me that not long ago, I heard that the cost was approaching $60,000 per head!  Did you know that?  And how much do these prisoners pay the government back to cover these expenses?  I’m sure that you have already guessed correctly, if you didn’t know already.  That’s right.  To the best of my knowledge, the prisoners don’t pay a penny back to us for all these costs that they have caused us…the general public!   Now, do you think that is right?  Now, I have to clear that up a little bit.  I have been in a couple prisons.  No, I didn’t break the law.  I was there on business.  At one of them, the prisoners were manufacturing shoes and other items that were to be used by the prisoners which would save us all quite a bit of money.

I think that every one of our jails and prisons should be set up to manufacture everything that the prisoners need during their stay cooped up away from society.  They shouldn’t be just sitting around or exercising to build their muscles so they can overpower the guards.  Each and every one of  the prisoners need to be responsible for paying back the government (us) for all the costs of their incarceration.  They should not be given a free ride.   Do you suppose such a requirement could be an additional deterrent and cause them to think twice about a life of crime?   If they are in for life, well, then, they will need to work doing something all the time that they are imprisoned.

I surely like what that Sheriff in Arizona is doing with his prisoners.  You know, the one who has the prisoners living in tents instead of nice air conditioned rooms.  If I was put in one of those tents, sweating in the summer Arizona heat, I certainly would do every things I could to not do anything that would cause me to spend extra time there!  How about you?  If you agree with me, write your Congressman and insist that something must be done to make prisoners pay their way for every penny of cost while they are in a correctional facility.

Guess what, if you are to accomplish this in your State, the savings should have a  great effect on your taxes. Maybe a big affect on those taxes!

 

AndersonnewWritten by Ted Anderson. Insurance agent Ted W. Anderson worked in sales for half a century, has lived in Albany since 1993. He is president of Dover Lane Neighborhood Watch. Send email to him at aj@thealbanyjournal.com.

 

Tags: cost, crime, incarceration, prison, prisoners, Ted Anderson
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Quit blaming the citizens

– March 13, 2012Posted in: Outlook

 

 

I’m getting tired of it.  I’m getting rather sick of the attitude some officials espouse, blaming the people of Albany – and often times their “attitude” – for Albany being in its current state.  The most recent incident comes via a WFXL report where EDC head Ted Clem is quoted as saying, “Our biggest challenge in Albany is ourselves. Sometimes we have such a negative self image of who we are as a community that we lose sight of the fact that we do have competitive advantages over many other communities in the state of Georgia and around the country.”

He was joined by Equinox Chemical chief Mark Grimaldi who said, “It’s human nature to focus on the negative side or the bad things about where you live and the grass is always greener on the other side and everybody always wants to leave Albany for a better place.”

First, let me say that I respect what Grimaldi has accomplished at Equinox.  Their success is an inspiration for all business owners in this community.

Of course, when Clem opens his mouth to tell people in Albany what they should think, all I can hear is someone who has fallen asleep at the wheel, then trying to blame the kids in the back seat for the accident.

Our community has some very serious problems. We have crime, a lack of jobs, a dirty city, and corruption at various points within the system. For better or worse, that is a fact.  Most who have issues with our community know this, and they don’t want to look the other way.

Clem, and those like him, argues that our perception equals reality.  That’s not entirely incorrect either.  However, the inverse is somewhat true as well, since our perception is shaped by our reality as well. What so many in the community think isn’t some dark conspiracy to hurt Albany.  It’s their heartfelt impressions, and concern over where Albany is and where it’s going.

Every time an official acts like perception, or media reporting, is the problem they are turning their backs on the root of the problems in this town.  Willie Adams, as mayor during the Don Buie fiasco, tried to deflect attention onto media reporting by claiming that the negative press was hurting Albany while forgetting that the problem wasn’t the reporting.  The problem was that there was corruption to report.

If folks like Clem want people like me to think “happy thoughts” about Albany, then give me a good reason to think them.  Bring in new jobs, something the head of the EDC should be doing, and then I can think more.  Clean up our community.  Make Albany the kind of place we can be proud to show off, and I promise you that the “happy thoughts” will take care of themselves.

The reality is that the rank and file community member doesn’t need to feel good about our advantages as a community.  Those who are responsible for luring good jobs to this town need to know them, and they need to sell them.  If they do that, things will work out just fine.

 

 

Tags: Albany, community, corruption, crime, dirty city, Don Buie fiasco, EDC, Equinox, lack of jobs, Mark Grimaldi, Outlook, perception, Ted Clem, Tom Knighton, Willie Adams
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Dougherty County Jail Inmate List Nov. 17- Nov. 24

– November 25, 2011Posted in: Crime, Dougherty County Jail Inmate List, Dougherty County Jail List, Headlines

Adams, Enola Leighann, Nov. 19, simple battery

Amburn, Lucius Mckinley III, Nov. 20, dui-alcohol / less safe, headlights required

Ashberry, Roderica Takeria, Nov. 18, computer theft

Askew, Joseph Richard, Nov. 22, bond revoked

Baisden, Daryll Marquette, Nov. 17, suspended dl 1st offense

Barnes, Richard Dewayne, Nov. 18, weekend prisoner

Bass, Dempsey Reynardlo, Nov. 19, simple battery

Battle, Annie Pearl, Nov. 17, simple battery

Bellmon, Shontarius Marquis, Nov. 21, court order sentence

Billingsly, Reginald Robert, Nov. 18, marijuana-possess less than 1oz.

Bishop, James Cortez, Nov. 22, burglary

Bland, Rasoul Muhammad, Nov. 21, failure to appear

Bonner, Isaiah Demetrice, Nov. 18, criminal damage to property 2nd degree (2 nts), entering auto (2 counts)

Bouyer, Alexander Lekeith, Nov. 18, theft by shoplifting

Boyde, Amanda Renee, Nov. 17, ret f/trial

Bridges, Matthew James, Nov. 19, marijuana-possess less than 1oz., possession of cocaine

Brooks, Terrence Lamont, Nov. 18, hold for other law enforcement, prob violation

Butler, Yolanda Michele, Nov. 22, prob violation

Campbell, Justin, Nov. 21, deposit account fraud/bad check

Campbell, Tiara Lechelle, Nov. 19, affray (fighting)

Canty, Tehrin James, Nov. 22, open container (po), poss consumpt alco by minor, possession marij (1 oz 1st offense)

Castleberry, Crystal Gayle, Nov. 18, interfer w/police

Cheatham, Theron Jr., Nov. 18, state crt intermittent sentence

Colbert, Bobby Antonio, Nov. 17, prob violation

Colbert, Eric Devaugan, Nov. 18, aggravated assault (9 counts), aggravated assault on police, prob violation

Coleman, Willie Carl Jr., Nov. 18, dui driv under the inf of alc conc .08g more 3 hrs, open container alcohol-in poss of driver, speeding (16-20)

Collier, Tommy Lee, Nov. 19, parole viol

Covin, Willie Nigel, Nov. 22, civ contempt (child sup)

Daniel, William   III, Nov. 17, hold for other law enforcement

Davis, Arlandius Tyrone, Nov. 17, burglary, theft by taking

Davis, Phillip Lamar, Nov. 17, cruelty to children-cs exc phy or ment pain 1st dg

Dawson, Johnny Lee, Nov. 17, burglary, theft by taking

Dunbar, Iesha Juliet, Nov. 19, theft by shoplifting

Eire, Alberto Enrique, Nov. 19, state crt intermittent sentence

Fletcher, Lee Ivan, Nov. 19, d u i-of alcohol/drugs, driving while license suspended/revoked, learner’s permit violation, seat belt required, signs & markers,compl w/traf control devices

Ford, Thomas Jr., Nov. 21, court order sentence

Foster, Demarcus Antwan, Nov. 17, prob violation

Fountain, Christopher Blake, Nov. 19, marijuana-possess less than 1oz., possession of cocaine

Franklin, Rodney Joseph, Nov. 21, drug objects-trans in/poss w intent to distr, giving false name,add,dob to police

Gammage, Quantavius, Nov. 20, criminal trespass, prob violation

Germany, Melanie Joan, Nov. 18, simple battery

Gibbons, Regina Marie, Nov. 22, prob violation

Glover, Antwain Latrell, Nov. 17, prob violation

Green, Nicole Renee, Nov. 18, superior crt intermittent sentence

Green, Vickie Lanita, Nov. 17, theft by shoplifting

Greshan, Latarsa Mechelle, Nov. 20, simple battery

Grizzard, Darrell Clayton, Nov. 17, disorderly conduct,general

Harmon, Jazzlyn Cartae, Nov. 20, theft by shoplifting

Harnage, Eric Jason, Nov. 18, weekend prisoner

Harper, Gamal Taliafferro, Nov. 19, hold for other law enforcement

Harris, Christopher Anthony, Nov. 17, prob violation

Hickman, Christopher Lee, Nov. 21, prob violation

Hilson, Royce Charles, Nov. 18, state crt intermittent sentence

Holmes, Donte Ellis, Nov. 21, prob violation

Howard, James Bernard, Nov. 22, armed rob, fa/knife poss during crime/attempt crime, receipt/poss/transf firearm by conv fel 1st ofndr

Hunter, David, Nov. 22, child molestation

Jackson, Jeremy Jovan, Nov. 20, possession of marij (1 oz 1st offense)

Jackson, Patrick Montrell, Nov. 20, no insurance 1st off, suspended dl 2nd offense, suspended vehicle registration

Jackson, Valerie Ann, Nov. 17, prob violation

Jackson, Vincent Darrell, Nov. 17, prob violation

James, Antonio Terrell, Nov. 17, prob violation

James, Reginald David, Nov. 21, drug traffic w/in 1000′ pub park/rec/pub, sale/poss wid/purchase/marij

Jenkins, Sekelia Latrele, Nov. 18, open container (po)

Johnson, Antionette Denise, Nov. 22, parole viol

Johnson, Destinee Michelle, Nov. 19, theft by shoplifting

Johnson, Ivory Victor, Nov. 18, prob violation

Jolly, Michael Scott, Nov. 18, fin/trans card theft, financial transaction card fraud, financial transaction card fraud

Jones, Boazack Corelle, Nov. 20, interfer w/police

Jordan, David Lee, Nov. 21, deposit account fraud/bad checks

Jordan, Joshua Jerome, Nov. 18, prob viol

Kendrick, Sharada Hope, Nov. 21, prob violation

Kennedy, James Rhett, Nov. 17, weekend prisoner

King, Christopher Shawn, Nov. 20, obstruction of officers, simple battery

King, Xzameiyuen Dewuen, Nov. 21, theft by deception

King, Zaquen, Nov. 21, theft by deception

Laster, Dontavious Alexander, Nov. 22,

Lee, Terry Nathaniel, Nov. 18, prob violation

Lovest, Theodus Lamar, Nov. 22, burglary

Lowe, Joel Tremond, Nov. 21, seat belts required, suspended dl 1st offense

Lumpkin, Demetrius Vashun, Nov. 17, prob violation

Lutterman, Kevin Lee, Nov. 21, prob violation

Mansour, Motasem Mustafa, Nov. 19, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts

Martin, Kwandesha Quetorria, Nov. 17, simple assault

Mathis, Timothy Orlando, Nov. 18, weekend prisoner

May, Justin Thomas, Nov. 19, marijuana-possess less than 1oz., possession of cocaine, tag light required, winshield/windshield wiper requirements

Mccray, Sherman Lee, Nov. 19, prob violation

Mckinney, Gregory Jerome, Nov. 17, prob violation

Mercer, Alton Jr., Nov. 19, simple battery

Merritt, Milton Wayne Jr., Nov. 17, prob violation

Miller, Michael Wayne, Nov. 17, fin/trans card theft, financial transaction card fraud (3 counts), theft by receiving stolen property

Morris, Richard Albert Jr., Nov. 21, theft by receiving stolen property (4 counts)

Moses, Antonio Leon, Nov. 22, hold for other law enforcement

Moses, Kizzy Leroy, Nov. 21, theft by shoplifting (2 counts)

Murray, Bernard Reshon, Nov. 21, prob violation

Myers, James, Nov. 17, prob violation

Nelson, Dionte Chapelle, Nov. 18, criminal trespass

Newton, Larry Andrew, Nov. 21, prob violation

Parker, Empris Sade, Nov. 18, weekend prisoner

Polk, Stanley Leon, Nov. 21, simple assault (2 counts)

Ponder, Jazma Janae, Nov. 20, theft by shoplifting

Porter, Brian Leconte, Nov. 18, state crt intermittent sentence

Porter, Quintus Lamar, Nov. 18, contempt of court

Posey, William Walter Jr., Nov. 17, prob violation

Price, Larahtis Jerrod, Nov. 18, weekend prisoner

Reynolds, James Edward, Nov. 19, d u i-of alcohol/drugs, headlights required, signs & markers,compl w/traf control devices

Robertson, Kelly Lee, Nov. 18, criminal trespass

Robinson, Shelia Delvina, Nov. 22, obstruction of officers-felony, prob violation

Rolle, Deandrolo Corronotta, Nov. 18, criminal damage to property 2nd degree (2 counts0, entering auto (2 counts), poss tools for commission of a crime, wearing masks/hoods/etc.

Saylor, Freddie Anthony, Nov. 18, aggravated assault, aggravated assault

Schlegel, Amanda Maria Davis, Nov. 21, forgery 1st degree (20 counts)

Scott, Tia Nicole, Nov. 19, affray (fighting)

Seay, Marshannon Demetrix, Nov. 17, prob violation

Sheppard, Bolzie Lee, Nov. 17, prob violation

Sherrod, Robbie Lee, Nov. 18, weekend prisoner

Smith, Antwan, Nov. 22, obstruction of officers

Smith, Tracy Devore, Nov. 20, state court sentence

Smythe, Daquan Markece, Nov. 21, failure to appear

Solomon, Phillip III, Nov. 21, simple battery

Spears, Lumumba Andri, Nov. 21, brake light/turn signal required, driving while license suspended/revoked, marijuana-possess less than 1oz., receipt/poss/transf firearm by conv fel 1st ofndr

Spicer, Rodney Lee, Nov. 19, loitering/prowling, tampering w/evidence (2 counts), theft by taking

Stanley, Cedrick Lavain, Nov. 18, state crt intermittent sentence

Stephens, Abner Dione, Nov. 19, driving while license suspended/revoked, dui alc/cont sub pres bld/urine sbj 40-6-391(b), hold for other law enforcement, no passing zone/pass on yellow line, speeding (36-37)

Taylor, Brian Adam, Nov. 17, forgery 1st degree

Taylor, Randy, Nov. 19, prob violation

Tolnai, Julie Nicole, Nov. 21, prob violation

Tumblin, Tanesha Shandreia, Nov. 18, disorderly conduct

Varner, James Matthew, Nov. 20, criminal trespass

Vicente, Santos Efrain, Nov. 17, driving without a valid license mis, speeding (16-20)

Walden, Rodricaus Quintrez, Nov. 17, contempt of court, prob violation

Ware, Kentravious Montrell, Nov. 19, criminal trespass

Warren, Timothy Conelius, Nov. 22, parole viol

Washington, Roosevelt III, Nov. 17, prob violation

Welton, Robert Keith Jr., Nov. 17, criminal trespass

White, Damion, Nov. 19, theft by taking

White-Seay, Shana Leticha, Nov. 22, stop sign/yield signs, suspended dl 1st offense

Whitehead, Brenton Field, Nov. 20, simple battery

Whitehead, Rodrique Montrell, Nov. 20, prob violation

Williams, Aaron Lenil, Nov. 21, aggravated assault, prob violation, simple battery – family violence

Williams, Alvin, Nov. 17, state court sentence

Williams, Dennis Lee, Nov. 18, prob violation

Williams, Jennifer Saprina, Nov. 19, prob viol

Williams, Jimmy Sr., Nov. 17, obstruction of officers, terroristic threats and acts

Williams, Marquez Cortez, Nov. 18, contempt of court (2 counts)

Williams, Patrick Lamar, Nov. 21, giving false name,add,dob to police, prob violation  (2 counts), receipt/poss/transf firearm  by conv fel 1st ofndr

Williams, Tahira Aisha, Nov. 20, criminal trespass, simple battery

Wimberly, Amanda Marie, Nov. 20, disorderly conduct,general

Winchester, Keyauntre Nicole, Nov. 19, harassing phone calls

Wingfield, Jeremy Michael, Nov. 22, open container (po), poss consumpt alco by minor, possession marij (1 oz 1st offense)

Wingfield, Nathaniel, Nov. 20, simple battery

Winkfield, Larry Antonio, Nov. 17, prob violation

Wooden, Marcus, Nov. 17, failure to appear, off bond

Woolfolk, Kendra Nakia, Nov. 20, battery

 

Tags: arrests, crime, Dougherty County Jail Inmate List, featured
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Hunter Admits to Killing Forest Service Officer

– November 19, 2011Posted in: Uncategorized

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney, for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Norman Clinton Hale, age 42, a resident of McDonough, Georgia, entered a plea of guilty before the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell, United States District Judge in Macon on November 18, 2011. Hale entered a plea of guilty to killing a federal officer (involuntary manslaughter), discharging a firearm in a developed recreation site, and hindering communication to a law enforcement officer. Hale faces a maximum sentence of eight years’ imprisonment for the offense of involuntary manslaughter and a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for hindering communication to a law enforcement officer. Discharging a firearm in a developed recreation site is a misdemeanor offense. Sentencing will be scheduled by the court in mid-March, 2012.

On March 5, 2010, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Christopher Upton was located at the Ocmulgee Bluff Equestrian Trailhead in the Oconee National Forest, Jasper County, Georgia. Officer Upton was located on Forest Service property conducting surveillance to determine if individuals were violating the law or damaging Forest Service property or land.

Sometime after 9:45 p.m. on March 5, 2010, Norman Clinton Hale and others arrived at the Ocmulgee Bluff Equestrian Trailhead for the purpose of coyote hunting. Hale was armed with a Remington 700 bolt action .223 caliber rifle which was fitted with a night vision scope. Hale climbed into the bed of his pickup truck and started hunting in Trailhead, which is a developed recreation site.

During the hunt, Hale claimed he saw “bright eyes” and fired his rifle. After firing his rifle, Hale instructed another person to go out to the location toward which he, Hale had fired. This person observed that a human being, later identified as Officer Upton, had been shot by Hale. Despite being in possession of cell phones, no one at the scene immediately called 911 or rendered any aid to Officer Upton.

After over an hour had passed, 911 was finally called. By the time emergency services arrived at the scene, Officer Upton was dead.

Hale and others were interviewed by law enforcement officers. At the scene and in a later interview, Hale failed to communicate to law enforcement officers that other witnesses were present at the time of the shooting who might incriminate him.

United States Attorney Michael J. Moore stated, “This case is uniquely tragic. It is inconceivable that Forest Service Officer Chris Upton was left to die, without any aid or comfort being offered by Mr. Hale. We are talking about a human being, a husband, a son and father. The failure to immediately call for help or render aid in these circumstances is inexcusable.”

The case was investigated by the United States Forest Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and supported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Solis.

 

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2602.

 

Tags: crime, hunting accident, United States Forest Service
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Defendant Pleads Guilty to Lying to FBI Agents About Plans to Hire Hit Man to Murder Competing Butcher

– October 19, 2011Posted in: Crime


Defendant Tried to Hire Undercover Officer to Assassinate Rival Butcher

ATLANTA—JAVIER ACOSTA-CAUDILLO, 37, of Woodstock, Georgia, pled guilty today to lying to a federal agent concerning his role in a murder-for-hire scheme.

“Every day, federal agents conduct investigations of serious criminal conduct that threatens the safety of our community. Agents depend upon the honesty of the people they interview to make sure that they can act quickly and appropriately in preventing criminal behavior—especially in cases like this one, where the defendant was planning a murder-for-hire scheme. Cases like this demonstrate why it is a criminal offense to intentionally lie to agents conducting their investigations,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.

Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison said, “We are pleased with the outcome of this investigation and with the subsequent guilty plea by this defendant today in federal court. We appreciate the assistance from the FBI and federal prosecutors in this matter.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other publicly available information: In April of this year, the FBI and Cherokee County authorities learned that an individual who turned out to be ACOSTA was searching for someone to help him with a murder-for-hire scheme. ACOSTA had been tasked by a local butcher to “eliminate” a competitor by having the competitor killed. ACOSTA discussed his need to find a “hit man” with a friend who subsequently reported the plan to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. This cooperating individual was directed to record any additional conversations he had with ACOSTA on this topic.

After several other conversations between ACOSTA and the cooperating official, the sheriff’s office and the FBI directed the cooperating individual to inform ACOSTA that he had found a potential hit man. This would-be killer was in fact an undercover officer. ACOSTA spoke with this officer several times, to include one face-to-face meeting in early June. At this in-person meeting, ACOSTA explained that the unnamed target was trying to steal some of his employer’s butcher business and needed to be shot and killed. The two agreed on a contract price of $5,000, with $3,000 to be paid up front.

After the in-person meeting, ACOSTA became harder to reach and eventually stopped returning the undercover officer’s calls. The FBI confronted ACOSTA, who denied any knowledge of a murder-for-hire scheme, denied having met the undercover officer, and denied having agreed to pay the officer $5,000.

After he was arrested on state false statement charges, ACOSTA, through counsel, asked to meet with the FBI again to discuss his case. At this meeting, ACOSTA admitted that he had lied to the FBI agents the first time around, and that he did in fact seek to hire the undercover officer to kill the alleged meat market rival. ACOSTA remained adamant that he never learned the name of the intended victim, as the scheme collapsed before his employer had informed him of the target’s identity. Today in court, ACOSTA admitted lying to the agent, and told the court he had been working at a food outlet in Woodstock at the time of the incident. The investigation is ongoing.

ACOSTA was arrested on the present federal false statement charges on June 21, 2011. His sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2011, at 11 a.m. He faces up to five years in prison for his false statements to the agents and officers. He is also subject to deportation. 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.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its Safe Streets Task Force, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert McBurney is prosecuting the case.

For further information, please contact Sally Q. Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.

 

Tags: crime
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Musician Randomly Stabbed; Reward Offered

– October 4, 2011Posted in: Crime, Headlines

By Kevin Hogencamp

Local musician Lance Larsen’s hard-luck life got a lot tougher Monday afternoon when an unknown assailant stabbed him three times, perhaps as part of a gang initiation. Larsen called 911 from his cell phone and was treated at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and released.

Larsen, who has autism, was attacked about 5 p.m. near 12th Avenue and Barnesdale Way during his long, daily walk home from Dawson Road to his Leesburg home. He was stabbed in the neck, back and arm with a knife that he says may have had a black handle and a blade of about 2-inches. He was not robbed.

Police say they have not yet identified his assailant.

In an interview Tuesday, Larson said the attacker – a young black man or teenager — didn’t say a word to him.

“He came out of the alleyway without any provocation and took off and fled the same way he came from,” Larsen said.

Larsen said he deliberately attempts to walk through residential areas rather than heavily traveled areas for safety reasons.

“It’s a quiet street. I’ve walked on it many teams. There is no traffic,” Larson said.

Larsen said he hopes the senseless attack gets the attention of Albany leaders.

“We need to take this town back from these thugs. We’ve got to make this a safer town,” he said.

Larsen’s niece, Lorrie Jackson, agrees.

“Maybe this can be a stepping stone for making people wake up,” she said.

Larsen plays the tambourine for the Bo Henry Band. He said he thinks that he will be physically able to perform with the group this week at the Harvest Moon and this weekend in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Harvest Moon co-owner Bo Henry is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Larsen’s assailant. Tips can be called into the Albany Police Department at 431-2100 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers, which may given an additional reward, at 436-TIPS.

In 2009, Larsen ran into some additional hard times when he was banned from volunteering at the Albany Civic Center for – according to then-director John Mazzola – being overly exuberant when he met Larry the Cable Guy backstage. Then city manager Alfred Lott overruled Mazzola because some city commissioners expressed concern to Lott about Larsen being the victim of discrimination due to his disability.

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