News
News

Victims come forward with shocking stories following AJC/Channel 2 investigation into tax preparer with a history of fraud

Hapeville City Councilwoman Ruth Barr is scheduled to go on trial later in May for stealing more than $100,000 from a relative. BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM
Hapeville City Councilwoman Ruth Barr is scheduled to go on trial later in May for stealing more than $100,000 from a relative. BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM
By
May 25, 2016

The fallout continues to grow following our investigation into a metro Atlanta tax preparer with a history of fraud.

“The person she turned out to be was just pure evil,” a victim said.

Dozens of firefighters, paramedics and police now say Ruth Barr, an elected official in Hapeville, targeted them as clients.

Why thousands of victims could have to pay back millions of dollars in bogus refunds. Read the story on myAJC.com and in this Sunday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

About the Author

Brad Schrade is an investigations editor at The AJC.

Follow Brad Schrade on facebookFollow Brad Schrade on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

People are silhouetted against a huge Pride flag before the start of the Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal

Atlanta Pride Parade: Meet some faces in the crowd

An estimated 100,000 people gathered in Midtown Atlanta — a wide range of LGBTQ+ people and allies — to celebrate diversity and inclusion at 2025’s Atlanta Pride Parade.

31m ago

The Latest

People are silhouetted against a huge Pride flag before the start of the Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Atlanta Pride Parade: Meet some faces in the crowd

31m ago

Trump administration is bringing back scores of CDC experts fired in error

Sweet Tea: Cute as a button

Featured

A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik

High Museum to showcase Amy Sherald’s uncensored retrospective next summer

Georgia-born Amy Sherald gained national attention when she pulled her solo National Portrait Gallery exhibit, citing censorship. Atlantans will get to see it in its entirety.

Police, GBI investigating off-duty officer killing man near Buckhead bar

An Atlanta officer responding to a "disruptive patron" call at the 5 Paces Inn shoots the man after seeing him take an item he believed to be a gun from a car, GBI says.

Monday madness guide: Falcons, Hawks to bring traffic to downtown Atlanta

Expect packed MARTA trains and traffic snarls around State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Big crowds of Bills fans are expected to descend on the city.