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A Gilmer County Grand Jury has indicted nine people in connection with numerous pieces of stolen equipment discovered in Gilmer County during the months of April and May.
Nathan Anderson of Ellijay, Michael Callaway of Blairsville, Robert Mosley of Ellijay, Jacob Davis of Ellijay, Jamie Priest of Chatsworth, Chad West of Ellijay, Tim Land of Jasper, Lewis Bramlett of Ellijay, and Johnny Searcy of Ellijay were indicted for violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The indictment listed 54 activities that fell under racketeering activity, and some of those indicted were listed as being a part of multiple activities.
No action was taken by members of the Grand Jury regarding charges against Norman Chastain of Ellijay.
Anderson was indicted on 43 acts that included:
19 acts of theft by taking;
nine acts of tampering with evidence;
six acts of possession of a motor vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number;
two acts of theft by receiving;
two acts of sale and receipt of a motor vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number;
two acts of influencing witnesses;
two acts of theft by bringing stolen property into the state, and;
one act of criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark.
Anderson was also indicted on a second count of RICO concerning real estate holdings.
Callaway was indicted on 19 acts which included:
17 acts of theft by taking, and;
two acts of theft by bringing stolen property into the state.
Davis was indicted on 10 acts which included:
four acts of theft by taking;
four acts of tampering with evidence;
one act of possession of a motor vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number, and;
one act of false statement.
Mosley was indicted on eight acts that included:
three acts of theft by taking;
three acts of theft by receiving;
one act of tampering with evidence, and;
one act of false statement.
Bramlett was indicted on eight acts which included:
two acts of theft by taking;
two acts of theft by receiving;
two acts of tampering with evidence, and;
two acts of possession of a motor vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number.
Priest was indicted on six acts which included:
two acts of theft by taking;
three acts of tampering with evidence, and;
one act of false statement.
Searcy was indicted on five acts which included the following:
two acts of theft by taking;
two acts of possession of a motor vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number, and;
one act of theft by receiving.
West was indicted on three acts that included:
two acts of theft by receiving, and;
one act of theft by taking.
Land was indicted on two acts which included:
one act of theft by taking, and;
one act of theft by receiving.
A statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation released to local and state media outlets said, A three-month investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Gilmer County Sheriffs Office, and the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office culminated today with the indictment by a Gilmer County grand jury of nine individuals on theft charges.
The charges stem from the theft of 21 pieces of heavy construction equipment with a value of over $500,000 that included track hoes, skid steers, bulldozers, and trailers. These thefts occurred in five north Georgia counties and two counties in North Carolina.
Nine individuals were indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
The indictments were returned on Monday, June 26, and released to media outlets on Tuesday, June 27.