Residents convicted in car theft ring

Over the past month, 20 people charged in a multistate car theft ring centered around Statesboro have been sentenced to prison and/or probation, said United States Attorney Edmund A. Booth, Jr. United States for the Southern District of Georgia.
Two former Statesboro police officers, one of whom was employed as an officer at the time the crimes were committed, were among those sentenced, he said. Another man, Jimmy Lee Everett, 41, of Brooklet, was also convicted at the same time on an unrelated charge of bank fraud, he said.
The federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia indicted the suspects on Dec. 13, 2007, in a 56-count indictment, Booth said.
“During the course of the accused criminal conduct, members of the conspiracy stole dozens of vehicles (with a total value of over $1 million), altered the vehicle identification number, or VIN, on these stolen vehicles and sold the stolen vehicles, as well as counterfeit vehicle titles, at a heavily discounted price to their co-conspirators,” he said. “The stolen vehicles were registered by the buyers at local offices using the counterfeit title and altered VIN. Some buyers then faked the theft of their vehicles with the help of the conspiracy in order to claim an inflated insurance loss. “

U.S. District Judge William T. Moore imposed the sentences, Booth said.
John Fitzgerald Jones, 45, was employed as a Statesboro police officer at the time the screams occurred, he said. Jones pleaded guilty to possession of a counterfeit motor vehicle title with intent to deceive and was sentenced to 27 months in prison; with 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $37,154.62; and a special assessment of $100, Booth said.

Two others involved were also former Statesboro police officers, but were not employed by the department at the time of the arrests. John Allen Williams, 38, of Duluth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 18 months in prison; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $32,808.55; and a special assessment of $100, he said.

Allen Michael Tillman, 31, Bluffton., SC, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 18 months; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $31,851.12; and a special assessment of $100, Booth said.

Everett was convicted of trafficking vehicles with an altered VIN and sentenced to 108 months in prison; must pay restitution of $332,450.34; three years of supervised release; and a special assessment of $100.

In a separate case, Everett was also convicted the same day of bank fraud related to the embezzlement of more than $200,000 from a local sidewalk marking company.

Around twenty defendants sentenced
Most of the defendants pleaded guilty during hearings held in April, May and June 2008, he said. Wesley Bernard Aikens, 32, of Union City, was convicted of conspiracy a year ago by a federal jury. He was sentenced to 51 months' imprisonment; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $16,364.50; and a special assessment of $100.

The other defendants were sentenced as follows: Ronnie Lee Jr., 27, Savannah – convicted of possession of a counterfeit state security document, was sentenced to 77 months imprisonment; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $175,978.74; and a special assessment of $100.

James Wesley Edenfield, 38, Statesboro – convicted of making false statements to federal law enforcement officers, was sentenced to 6 months in prison; 3 years of supervised release; a fine of $1,000; and a special assessment of $100, he said.

Troy Jason Edenfield, 41, Statesboro – convicted of trafficking vehicles with altered VINs, was sentenced to 60 months in prison; must pay restitution of $300,684.29; 3 years of supervised release; and a special assessment of $100, he said.

Adisha Jabari Bryant, 31, Savannah – convicted of conspiracy, sentenced to 46 months; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $82,546.28; and a special assessment of $100, he said.

Randall Lee Chambers, 48, Statesboro – convicted of conspiracy, sentenced to 18 months; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $32,808.55; and a special assessment of $100.

Archie Douglas Finch, 60, Portal – convicted of conspiracy, sentenced to 5 months imprisonment; 3 years of supervised release; and must pay a special assessment of $100, Booth said.

Woodard Hook Lewis Jr., 50, Statesboro – convicted of conspiracy, sentenced to 21 months; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $54,441.70; and a special assessment of $100.

Leon Spencer Patterson, 41, Snellville – convicted of possession of counterfeit state security, was sentenced to 80 months in prison; must pay restitution of $425,770.99; 3 years of supervised release; and a special assessment of $100, he said.

Justin Wayne Prince, 25, Statesboro – convicted of possession of counterfeit state securities, received five years probation; must pay restitution of $47,520.78; and a special assessment of $100.

Daisy Victoria Scott, 32, Sylvania – convicted of conspiracy, sentenced to 10 months; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $20,222.00; and a special assessment of $100.

Taryn Marie York, 24, Nokesville, VA – convicted of criminal error and received three years probation; a fine of $1,000; and a special assessment of $100., was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment; 3 years of supervised release; must pay restitution of $81,083.55; and a special assessment of $100, Booth said.

Willie Battiste Jr., 46, Pooler – convicted of possession of counterfeit state security property, was sentenced to three years probation; must pay restitution of $7,000 and a special assessment of $100.

Jeffrey Lee Gaines, 45, Pampas, Texas – convicted of conspiracy, received five years' probation, must pay $11,629.12 in restitution and $100 special assessment, he said .

Charlie Simmons, 50, Pooler – convicted of possession of counterfeit state securities, received three years probation; must pay restitution of $15,655.54; and a special assessment of $100.