Three people who preyed on the vulnerability of elderly homeowners across five counties pleaded guilty in Cobb Superior Court to their roles in a home improvement scam.
Larry McGill, Nicholas Mitchell and Helen Johnson all pleaded guilty to racketeering last week, after being charged with conspiring to defraud 25 elderly home owners of more than $74,500 in scams in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett and Walton Counties, according to a news release from the office of the state attorney general.
According to the release, between July 2011 and February 2013, the defendants would offer exterior home cleaning services at one price, then jack up the price after the job was done. While some homeowners tried to negotiate a lower payment, some believed they could not protest the higher amount, prosecutors said.
McGill and Mitchell were both sentenced to two years in prison, followed by 13 years of probation. McGill was ordered to pay $18,944, and Mitchell $5,657, in restitution. Johnson was sentenced to one year in prison, followed by five years on probation, and was ordered to pay $900 in restitution.
There are still two suspects in the case who were named in the January indictment, who remain to face prosecution. Rocky Mitchell and Gidget Williams, are wanted and are at large, according to the release.
About the Author
