Multiple sheriff's offices make major busts
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Updated: 7:23 PM Jul 10, 2009
Multiple sheriff's offices make major busts
Officials have discovered more than $200,000 in forged checks and credit card fraud as well as over fifty items of stolen property ranging from utility trailers to golf cards.
Posted: 6:05 PM Jul 10, 2009
Reporter: Martha Spencer
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Officials have discovered more than $200,000 in forged checks and credit card fraud as well as over fifty items of stolen property ranging from utility trailers to golf cards.

A collaborative effort between ten sheriff's offices from Florida, Georgia and Alabama resulted in the major busts.

William R. Drake Jr. of Bainbridge, Georgia was arrested on June 19th. He is charged with six counts of first degree receiving stolen property and six counts of bringing stolen property into the state of Alabama.

Houston County Sherriff Andy Hughes said, "these are major theft cases, that we've completed these investigations on some of these victims are actual individuals in a community a lot of them are business. A business surely gets hurt when someone is embezzling funds from their business."

Drake allegedly stole and resold several dozen items ranging from utility trailers and generators.

In a separate case, Christie Lee Dowie of Slocomb is accused of writing fraudulent checks and activating an employer's credit card, charging more than $20,000 to the account.

"We try to make sure we investigate these cases completely so we make good cases on the individual so they’ll plead guilty or be convicted." said Sheriff Hughes.

The final arrest announced was Christie Davis of Blakely, Georgia. Authorities say Davis worked for HPH Investments in Dothan. Through the company she allegedly embezzled more than $87,000 on a company credit card. Authorities say she turned herself in and was released on $15,000 bond.

Sheriff Hughes says if you have had any property stolen recently such as trailers, lawn mowers, and generators, to contact the Houston County Sheriff's Office so they can see if the thefts are related to William Drake Jr.

There are several possible federal charges in the case of William Drake because he brought stolen property across state lines.


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