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, Brooklet, was also sentenced at the same time for an unrelated charge of bank fraud, he said.
The federal grand jury for the Southern District of Georgia indicted the suspects Dec. 13, 2007 in a 56-count indictment, Booth said.
"During the course of the charged criminal conduct, members of the conspiracy stole dozens of vehicles (worth over $1 million total), altered the vehicle identification number, or VIN, on those stolen vehicles, and sold the stolen vehicles, along with counterfeit motor vehicle titles, at a steep discount to their co-conspirators," he said. "The stolen vehicles were registered by the purchasers at local tag offices using the counterfeit title and altered VIN. Some purchasers then later 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 handed down the sentences, Booth said.
John Fitzgerald Jones , 45, was employed as a Statesboro Police officer at the time the cries were being committed, he said. Jones pled guilty to possession of a counterfeit motor vehicle title with the intent to deceive, and was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment; with 3 years supervised release; must pay $37,154.62 restitution; and a $100 special assessment, Booth said.
Two others involved were also former Statesboro Police officers but were not employed with the department when arrests were made. John Allen Williams, 38, Duluth, pled guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay $32,808.55 restitution; and a $100 special assessment, he said.
Allen Michael Tillman, 31, Bluffton., SC, also pled guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay $31,851.12 restitution; and a $100 special assessment, Booth said.
Everett was convicted of trafficking in vehicles with altered VIN and sentenced to 108 months imprisonment;must pay $332,450.34 restitution; three years supervised release; and a $100 special assessment.
In a separate case, Everett was also sentenced on the same date for bank fraud in connection with the embezzlement of over $200,000 from a local pavement marking business.
Twenty defendants sentenced
Most defendants pled guilty in hearings held April, May and June 2008, he said. Wesley Bernard Aikens, 32, Union City, was convicted of conspiracy a year ago by a federal jury. He received a sentence of 51 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay $16,364.50 restitution; and a $100 special assessment.
The other defendants were sentenced as follows: Ronnie Lee Jr., 27, Savannah - convicted of possession of a counterfeit state security, received 77 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay $175,978.74 restitution; and $100 special assessment.
James Wesley Edenfield, 38, Statesboro - convicted of false statements to investigating federal law enforcement officers, received 6 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; a $1,000 fine; and $100 special assessment, he said.
Troy Jason Edenfield, 41, Statesboro - convicted of trafficking in vehicles with altered VINs, received 60 months imprisonment; must pay $300,684.29 restitution; 3 years supervised release; and $100 special assessment, he said.
Adisha Jabari Bryant, 31, Savannah - convicted of conspiracy, received 46 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay $82,546.28 restitution; and a $100 special assessment, he said.
Randall Lee chambers, 48, Statesboro - convicted of conspiracy, received 18 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay $32,808.55 restitution; and a $100 special assessment.
Archie Douglas Finch, 60, Portal - convicted of conspiracy, received 5 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; and must pay $100 special assessment, Booth said.
Woodard Hook Lewis Jr., 50, Statesboro - convicted of conspiracy, received 21 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay $54,441.70 restitution; and a $100 special assessment.
Leon Spencer Patterson, 41, Snellville - convicted of possession of counterfeit state security, received 80 months imprisonment; must pay $425,770.99 restitution; 3 years supervised release; and a $100 special assessment, he said.
Justin Wayne Prince, 25, Statesboro - convicted of possession of counterfeit state security, received five years probation; must pay $47,520.78 restitution; and a $100 special assessment.
Daisy Victoria Scott, 32, Sylvania - convicted of conspiracy, received 10 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay $20,222.00 restitution; and a $100 special assessment.
Taryn Marie York, 24, Nokesville, VA - convicted of misprision of a felony, received three years probation; a $1,000 fine; and a $100 special assessment., received 18 months imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; must pay a $81,083.55 restitution; and $100 special assessment, Booth said.
Willie Battiste Jr., 46, Pooler - convicted of possession of counterfeit state security, received a sentence of three years probation; must pay $7,000 restitution, and a $100 special assessment.
Jeffrey Lee Gaines, 45, Pampas, TX - convicted of conspiracy, received five years probation, must pay $11,629.12 restitution, and a $100 special assessment, he said.
Charlie Simmons, 50, Pooler - convicted of possession of counterfeit state security, received three years probation; must pay $15,655.54 restitution; and a $100 special assessment.