Perjurer Gets Prison Time

G.F. “Pete” Peterman, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Angel Thacker Freundschuh, age 37, of Lee County, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 months and a day imprisonment for perjury by United States District Court Judge Leslie J. Abrams in Albany, Georgia on July 26, 2017.

On December 18, 2015, officers responded to a shoplifting call at the Marine Corp Exchange (MCX) located at the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MLCB) in Albany, Georgia. Ms. Freundschuh was found in possession of a silver ring, a bottle of Estee Lauder perfume, a blouse and a scarf belonging to MCX and of a total retail value of $121.00. Ms. Freundschuh was charged with Theft by Shoplifting and appeared before The Honorable Thomas Q. Langstaff, United States Magistrate Judge, on December 5, 2016, for trial. At that trial, Freundschuh testified in her own defense and falsely stated that officials of MCLB had returned these items of merchandise to her after she produced a receipt for them. In support of this testimony, Ms. Freundschuh presented an altered receipt, empty perfume box and blouse, all of which she swore to the Court were, in fact, the same items which she was accused of stealing but which had later been returned to her. The actual items taken by Freundschuh were, at the time of her testimony, in the possession of employees of MCX. Based on this false testimony, Ms. Freundschuh was charged with perjury. While federal law requires a sentence of at least 30 days incarceration for a repeat shoplifter such as Ms. Freundschuh, on February 13, 2017, she received 120 days to serve on the shoplifting conviction. While serving that sentence, Ms. Freundschuh plead guilty to perjury based upon her false testimony at her shoplifting trial. After completing the shoplifting sentence, Ms. Freundschuh appeared for sentencing on the perjury charge and received an additional prison sentence of one year and one day, to be followed by two years supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 mandatory assessment fee payment.

“This conviction is a perfect example of turning a misdemeanor into a felony by lying to the Court,” said United States Attorney Peterman. “Ms. Freundschuh’s original shoplifting charge was a misdemeanor, but by her false testimony she is now a convicted felon, with a much longer prison sentence as well as the attendant loss of rights and privileges that a felony conviction entails. Hopefully this case will make clear that while a defendant has the right to be silent, if the defendant choses to speak, there is no right to lie.”

Both cases were investigated by the Marine Corps Police Department--Criminal Investigative Division. Assistant United States Attorney Leah E. McEwen prosecuted the case for the United States.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.