Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 18, 2008
Contact : Sue McKinney
FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENT
Maxwell Wood, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that on July 17, 2008 the Grand Jury for the Middle District of Georgia returned a True Bill of an indictment against former Alapaha Judicial Circuit Judge Brooks E. Blitch, III; former Clinch County State Court Judge Berrien L. Sutton; Alapaha Court Administrator Lisa Sutton; George Bessonette an attorney in Homerville, Georgia; and Haywood Collier of Nashville, Georgia.
COUNT ONE
Honest Services Fraud Conspiracy- Brooks E. Blitch III, Berrien Sutton, Lisa Sutton
and George Bessonette
18 U.S.C. §§1341, 1343, and 1346 i/c/w 1349
Maximum Penalty:
§1341- Frauds and Swindles: 20 years and/or $1,000,000 fine
§1343- Fraud by Wire, Radio or Television: 20 years and/or $1,000,000 fine
§1349- Attempt and Conspiracy to Commit Fraud: Same punishment as attempted offense
COUNT TWO
Mail Fraud- Lisa Sutton, Berrien Sutton and Brooks Blitch III
18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1346 and 2
Maximum Penalty: §1341- Frauds and Swindles: 20 years and/or $1,000,000 fine
COUNTS THREE-EIGHT
Mail Fraud- Lisa Sutton, Berrien Sutton and Brooks Blitch III
18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1346 and 2
Maximum Penalty: §1341- Frauds and Swindles: 20 years and/or $1,000,000 fine
COUNT NINE
Honest Services Fraud Conspiracy- Brooks E. Blitch III, and Hayward Collier
18 U.S.C. §§1341, 1343, 1346, 1349 and 2
Maximum Penalty:
§1341- Frauds and Swindles: 20 years and/or $250,000 fine
§1343- Fraud by Wire, Radio or Television: 20 years and/or $250,000 fine
§1349- Attempt and Conspiracy to Commit Fraud: Same punishment as attempted offense
COUNT TEN
Extortion by a Public Official- Brooks E. Blitch III
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
Maximum Penalty: §1951- Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence: 20 years and/or $250,000 fine
COUNT ELEVEN
Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud- Brooks E. Blitch III and Berrien Sutton
18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1349
Maximum Penalty: §1341- Frauds and Swindles: 20 years and/or $250,000 fine
§1349- Attempt and Conspiracy to Commit Fraud: Same punishment as attempted offense
COUNT TWELVE
Perjury- Hayward Collier
18 U.S.C. § 1623
Maximum Penalty: §1623- False Declarations Before Grand Jury or Court: 5 years and/or $250,000 fine
COUNT THIRTEEN
Retaliation Against a Witness- Brooks E. Blitch III
18 U.S.C. § 1513
Maximum Penalty: §1513- Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim or Informant: 10 years and/or $250,000 fine
COUNT FOURTEEN
Retaliation Against a Witness- Brooks E. Blitch III
18 U.S.C. § 1513
Maximum Penalty: §1513- Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim or Informant: 10 years and/or $250,000 fine
COUNT FIFTEEN
Perjury- George Bessonette
18 U.S.C. § 1623
Maximum Penalty: §1623- False Declarations Before Grand Jury or Court: 5 years and/or $250,000 fine
COUNT SIXTEEN
False Statements- George Bessonette
18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2)
Maximum Penalty: §1001(a)(2)- Fraudulent or False Statements Generally: 5 years and/or $250,000 fine
COUNT SEVENTEEN
False Statements- Brooks E. Blitch III
18 U.S.C. §1001
Maximum Penalty: §1001- Fraudulent or False Statements Generally: 5 years and/or $250,000 fine
COUNT EIGHTEEN
Aiding and Abetting Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon- Brooks E. Blitch III
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 2
Maximum Penalty: § 922(g)(1)- Felon in Possession of a Firearm: 10 Years and/or $250,000 fine
COUNT NINETEEN
Extortion by a Public Official
18 U.S.C. § 1951 and 2
Brooks E. Blitch III
Maximum Penalty: §1951- Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence: 20 years and/or $250,000 fine
An indictment is only an accusation, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2602.
