Memphis, Tenn. - Edward L. Stanton, III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee,
and Rick Harlow, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the United States Secret
Service, announced today that Jennifer George-Hamilton, age 32 of Olive Branch, Mississippi, pled guilty
to forging the signature of deceased Memphis attorney, Eulyse M. Smith, on a check drawn against
business accounts maintained by Smith at Regions Bank.

According to the statement of facts made by Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. Andre, III, to U.S.
District Judge S. Thomas Anderson, George-Hamilton was employed by Smith in his law practice as a
secretary and bookkeeper until Eulyse Smith’s death in April of this year. George- Hamilton also handled
bookkeeping duties for two businesses owned by Smith’s family. Following Eulyse Smith’s death,
Smith’s son James Smith, also an attorney who practiced law with the elder Smith, reported to the
Memphis Police Department that George-Hamilton was suspected of having embezzled funds from the
two family owned businesses by forging the elder Smith’s signature on numerous checks drawn against
one of two accounts at Regions Bank.

An investigation conducted by agents from the United States Secret Service determined that from
September 2007 until April 2011, George-Hamilton stole approximately $153,000 by forging the elder
Smith’s signature on approximately 200 checks payable to herself. After forging Smith’s signature,
George-Hamilton would either cash the checks or deposit them to a personal account she maintained at
Renasant Bank.

The charge to which Hamilton pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment
and a fine of $250,000. A sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for November 10, 2011 at 1:30pm.

The United States Secret Service and Memphis Police Department conducted the investigation. The case
was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. Andre, III.

 

 

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